NHS Providers strongly welcomes the opportunity that the NHSLA has afforded trusts and foundation trusts to comment on the future direction of the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts (CNST). The fundamental, principles based discussion of options for CNST outlined in the consultation demonstrates genuine openness to delivering the best possible value from the scheme, and recognises areas of  feedback members have provided on the scheme to date .

NHS Providers does not believe there is appetite within the sector for a complete or fundamental overhaul of CNST, but does believe that there is scope for improvement to the current system to make it more tailored individual trust needs and to add value.

However, a question not addressed directly in the consultation is the system wide drive towards to new models of care, and how moves away from a traditional institution first view of healthcare delivery can be accommodated in any future model of insurance. We would recommend the NHSLA starts work to address this area.