As of May 6th 2025, the government has released a notice that GP surgeries are set to see an increase in funding1. BBC news states that “around 1 in 6 GP practices”2 are set to receive this cash injection which is targeted toward practice’s improving their facilities and operations. The approved funding marks the biggest investment into NHS GP facilities in 5 years, according to the official government release.
By utilising this funding, practices can boost productivity and patient access by transforming vacant facility spaces, such as spare offices or admin rooms, into clinician rooms. In areas where patients are struggling to access primary care, an additional clinical room could see vast improvements and allow patients to be seen faster. Helping to bring healthcare back into the community. The cash injection is also a part of the government’s wider plan to reform the NHS by modernising facilities and improving conditions for NHS workers. Transformed clinician rooms and services could lead to enhanced staff retention and recruitment across the country in the healthcare service.
Whilst the increased funding is intended to go toward improving your facilities, it is important to accommodate for the risks involved when doing so. Ahead, during and after any changes within your practice we recommend reviewing these areas with a specialised healthcare insurance adviser so that you are protected, depending on the work you are planning to undertake.
Buildings Cover
Aspects of your building’s cover will be determined by security features, rebuild costs, location and more. When undertaking work both inside and outside of a building, the value of your sums insured will change depending on the circumstances.
A keynote for amending any Building’s cover when undertaking work within your practice is that fixtures and fitting are typically considered part of the building. For instance, glass, sanitaryware or even laminate flooring. However, if you are unsure on specific fixture and fittings or think they should be covered elsewhere, we can suggest speaking with an adviser to determine how they can be covered.
Contents Cover
If you are planning on adding to the number of clinical rooms available within your practice, you may also be looking into additional contents to fill it. Medical equipment can be expensive, niche and hard to replace. Contents cover is designed to help protect you from loss against theft, accidental damage or malicious damage of belongings within the practice.
When purchasing new items for your practice, bear in mind or record an estimate price to review with your insurance adviser. Without notifying them of new contents you may be at a loss in the event of a claim. Depending on your coverage, contents insurance will include everything inside your premises including stock, vaccinations and equipment.
Temporary Unoccupancy
Although this money could be an opportunity for room switch-ups for some practices, other practices may utilise this funding for a complete refurbishment. Extended periods of time where your practice is out of action and unoccupied, such as before or after a refurbishment, it will leave the practice exposed. An unoccupied building is more at risk to break-ins and property damage.
You can plan alternative or additional cover ahead of these periods for peace of mind.
Additional Areas
As your practice develops with either additional funding or elsewhere, MIAB services are not limited to the above. Here is a brief overview of policies for your consideration, especially if your practice plans to implement more staff members with the ongoing NHS funding.
- Locum Insurance is our benefit policy to reimburse practices in the absence of staff members, this reimbursement can go toward hiring the Locum’s themselves or to the Practice where they can distribute the money how they like e.g. staff overtime.
- Management Liability is a liability insurance policy helping to protect decision makers against claims made during their regular role activities.
- If your practice has incorporated into a Primary Care Network, we offer bespoke insurance packages dedicated to Primary Care Network’s. Please find the direct dial if you wish to discuss 01438 547044.
To distinguish how you would like to cover refurbishments within your practice, a holistic practice review can help you understand how to protect new or changing assets. MIAB works in partnership with a variety of insurers and schemes to provide areas of combined or individual coverage. These areas can be covered within tailored packages when discussed with one of MIAB’s specialist advisers.
An appointment with one of our advisers is complementary and no-obligation.
Book a best available time of your choosing. Book here
1https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gp-surgery-refurbs-to-enable-over-8-million-more-appointments
