Our Schemes  

The Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts (CNST) is a voluntary membership scheme, to which all NHS trusts and Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in England currently belong. It covers all clinical claims where the allegedly negligent incident took place on or after 1 April 1995. The costs of meeting these claims are met through members’ contributions.  Only NHS bodies are eligible to become members of CNST. However, Independent Sector Treatment Centres treating NHS patients may benefit from CNST cover via their referring Primary Care Trust.

The Existing Liabilities Scheme (ELS) is centrally funded by the Department of Health and covers clinical claims against NHS bodies where the incident took place before April 1995.

The Ex-RHAs Scheme is a relatively small scheme covering clinical claims made against the former Regional Health Authorities, which were abolished in 1996. Like the ELS it is centrally funded by the Department of Health. It differs from the NHSLA’s other schemes in that the NHSLA is the legal defendant in any action.

The Liabilities to Third Parties Scheme (LTPS) and the Property Expenses Scheme (PES), known collectively as the Risk Pooling Schemes for Trusts (RPST), are two voluntary membership schemes covering non-clinical claims where the incident occurred on or after 1 April 1999. Costs are met through members’ contributions.