In a significant win for our members and the entire Medical Associate profession, NHS Resolution has provided unequivocal written confirmation that Physician Associates and Anaesthesia Associates remain fully indemnified under NHS schemes – with no strings attached.
A Clear and Decisive Answer
After months of uncertainty and anxiety following the Leng Review, UMAPs requested clarity from NHS Resolution on behalf of our members. Today, we can announce actual clarity: your indemnity coverage stands firm, comprehensive, and unconditional.
In a letter dated 25th November 2025, NHS Resolution has confirmed in black and white what we have consistently argued: Physician Associates and Anaesthesia Associates working in NHS primary and secondary care settings in England are fully covered under the Clinical Negligence Scheme for General Practice (CNSGP) and related schemes. PAs/AAs in secondary care will ordinarily be indemnified under CNST and this cover will also continue.
No Conditions Apply
Here’s what matters most: NHS Resolution has explicitly stated that “Indemnity under CNSGP is not conditional upon providers having followed RCGP guidance or implemented changes as per the Leng review to scope of practice.”
To be absolutely clear. Your indemnity is not conditional on following RCGP guidance. It is not conditional on your employer implementing Leng Review recommendations. It simply exists, as it always has, to protect you in your professional practice.
This clarity demolishes any attempt by employers or other parties to use indemnity concerns as a pretext for restricting PA and AA practice or creating additional bureaucratic hurdles. It reinforces similar statements by the Care Quality Commission and General Medical Council that associates are still able to practice at the top of their medical competencies.
What This Means on the Ground
For our members working in primary care, this confirmation means you can continue delivering the high-quality care your patients depend on, secure in the knowledge that you have the same indemnity protections you’ve always had.
For those in secondary care providing diagnostic, treatment, or care services, the same assurance applies. Your professional indemnity under NHS schemes remains robust and comprehensive.
UMAPs Will Always Fight for You
This outcome didn’t happen by accident. It happened because UMAPs, as your union, requested answers.
When the Leng Review created uncertainty about scope of practice, we knew our members needed concrete answers about indemnity coverage. We pushed NHS Resolution for clarity, and we’ve secured it in writing.
This is what union representation looks like: getting results when it matters most.
Protecting Your Rights Going Forward
While this is undoubtedly good news, our work continues. We remain vigilant against any attempts to undermine PA and AA practice through the back door.
If your employer suggests your indemnity is compromised or tries to restrict your practice based on false claims about coverage, contact UMAPs immediately. We now have definitive written confirmation from NHS Resolution itself, and we will use it to defend your professional rights.
Standing Strong Together
This victory belongs to every UMAPs member who raised concerns, who refused to accept uncertainty, and who stood together in demanding clarity.
It’s also a reminder of why collective organisation matters. Individual practitioners asking questions get individual responses (if they get responses at all). When UMAPs speaks on behalf of our membership, we get answers in writing that protect everyone.
Questions or Concerns?
If you have any questions about indemnity coverage, or if your employer is creating difficulties based on misconceptions about your protection, please contact us at info@umaps.org.uk
Together, we are stronger. Together, we defend the protections and professional respect our members deserve.
