English Pharmacy Board chair Sandra Gidley has said the state-backed indemnity scheme for general practice in England, which will include pharmacists based in GP surgeries for the first time, should be widened to protect community pharmacists.

From April 1 the clinical negligence scheme for general practice will offer cover to everyone working in general practice in relation to NHS services.

The scheme covers liabilities incurred on or after April 1 2019 as a result of an act or failure to act on the part of a GP or any other person working in a general practice setting where it is connected to the diagnosis, care or treatment of a patient and results in personal injury or loss to the patient.

Gidley (pictured) welcomed the move but said community pharmacists should be protected under the scheme.

“The inclusion of pharmacists in the clinical negligence scheme for general practice is good news and an important step in further smoothing the path of practice pharmacists in GP surgeries,” she said.

“This investment is a vote of confidence by the NHS in the future role of pharmacists as part of the multidisciplinary team in primary care. It will also come as a welcome relief to those who have had to bear the burden of rising professional indemnity costs.

“It’s only right that as part of the primary care team, pharmacists should be covered by this insurance.

“As primary care services continue to evolve, it's important the scheme is extended to cover pharmacists delivering services under the community pharmacy contract.”