MDDUS response to discount rate change in Scotland

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release: Monday, 27 March 2017

Responding to the Scottish Government’s announcement today to follow the decision made in England by the Lord Chancellor and cut the discount rate applied to personal injury claims from 2.5% to -0.75%, MDDUS chief executive Chris Kenny said:

“Today’s reduction in the discount rate is good news for lawyers, but bad news for the NHS. It adds avoidable pressure on NHS resources and doctors’ and dentists’ subscriptions to medical defence organisations.

“It is disappointing that Scottish ministers have chosen to follow their English counterparts in this potentially legally flawed decision, particularly when consultation on an improved system in England is expected in a matter of days. We will be seeking urgent assurances from Scottish ministers about their plans for improvement, and how they plan to tackle the funding consequences for the NHS in Scotland and our members.”

Our previous responses on the discount rate decision in England can be found here:

• Discount rate announcement threatens higher cost to doctors and dentists
• MDDUS urges Lord Chancellor to pause the discount rate change

For further information contact Richard Hendry on 0333 0434444 or 07976 272266, or email rihendry@mddus.com.

Note to editors

MDDUS (The Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland) is a medical and dental defence organisation providing access to professional indemnity and expert medico- and dento-legal advice for doctors, dentists and other healthcare professionals throughout the UK.

For further information on MDDUS go to www.mddus.com.