Insurance Bond

During 1990 representatives of the National VAMP User Group, as the National Vision User Group was then known, decided that the User Group would serve its members well if they could be protected against the system supplier (then known as VAMP) ceasing to trade. Consequently the User Group brought pressure to bear on the company to have its source codes and software deposited in escrow so that they would be available for the software to be developed further by a subsequent purchaser. This was subsequently done.

At the same time the NVUG began a scheme, called the Insurance Bond, to provide short-term support for practices should the company cease to trade. For a single payment of £30.00 per doctor (not per practice, as is the membership subscription), the NVUG would take over the running of the Help Line and continue essential hardware and software support. This would provide practices with a breathing space while the company’s future was settled.

Although the fear of an overnight loss of support has been obviated by the purchase of VAMP Health, first by Reuters and then, in 1999, by Cegedim, the NVUG has elected to continue with the Insurance Bond in order to protect members' interests, should any such problems be encountered in the future.

The Insurance Bond totalled £170,152.85 as at July 2001. Membership is available to paid-up members of the User Group or, to those who do not wish to enjoy the benefits of membership, on the payment of an additional non-returnable fee of £85.00.

If you would like your practice to be protected by this scheme, please contact the Treasurer.

Details of the constitution for the insurance bond follow below.

Insurance Bond Constitution

This Insurance Bond is administered in accordance with the provisions of the National Vision User Group (hereinafter called the "User Group") Constitution as amended from time to time.

The User Group Insurance Bond shall be administered by an Executive Committee, formed from:

• The Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer of the User Group  
• Three other members, nominated by the National Panel.

The aim of the Insurance Bond is to provide continuing support to members of this scheme in the event of bankruptcy, receivership, administration or other severe difficulty.

The financial support provided by the Insurance Bond shall enable Help Line, Engineering and Software support to members whilst funds remain available.

New and or replacement hardware costs are outside the scope of the scheme.

Software support shall be limited to existing generally distributed software. The provision of data dictionaries or other software updates is not included in the scheme.

The Executive Committee shall have sole authority to determine from the information available to them when to activate or de-activate support under the scheme. Meetings of the committee shall have a quorum of three, with at least one member present from each of the above groups.

Membership of the scheme is dependant upon payment in advance of such a sum as shall from time to time be agreed by the Executive Committee. Such a sum shall be related to the size of the partnership or group joining the scheme.

Non-members of the User Group shall pay an additional fee as determined from time to time by the Executive Committee.

Continuing membership of the scheme will be dependant upon payment of such additional sums as shall be determined from time to time by the Executive Committee. The committee shall only be empowered to call for additional sums in order to maintain the viability of the scheme.

The funds of the scheme shall be held in a London Clearing Bank Account. Any transfer of funds will require three authorised signatures.

The reasonable expenses of the committee in administering the scheme shall be paid from its funds. Full accounts shall be prepared annually and shall be presented at the User Group Annual General Meeting.

Members of the scheme who fail to pay any subscription due shall be deemed to have resigned from the scheme.

If prior to the activation of the scheme a practice ceases to use VAMP Medical/Vision software, it will be entitled to a refund from the scheme. Before making repayments the committee will satisfy itself that the practice has ceased to use the software. Refunds will be based on the original payments less a proportion of the administration costs of the scheme.

The committee may, with the approval of the User Group National Panel, wind up the scheme, and any of the remaining monies held will be distributed equitably among the remaining members.

Any practice which applies for membership of the scheme after its inception date shall not become eligible for benefits until three months shall have elapsed from the date of receipt of their subscription.

In the event of the activation of the scheme no further applications will be accepted.

A register of members of the Bond Scheme will be held by the Executive Committee which will be the sole arbiter of membership.

Any alteration to these rules shall only be made with the approval of a two thirds majority at a meeting of the User Group National Panel.