Views on the News

Free Health Checks from BMI Healthcare

Oct 27, 2010

BMI, the largest private hospital group in the UK has announced a year long programme of free mini health checks at workplaces and shopping centres. The health checks comprise tests for body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose – four important indicators for some of Britain’s most prevalent diseases.

Employers can email inspectyourhealth@bmihealthcare.co.uk if they would like to hold such an event at their workplace. At the moment, I can’t see any catch.

Early detection can save lives, so the investment BMI are making in this marketing opportunity should be welcomed.

Bupa to sell UK Protection and Risk Business

Oct 18, 2010

Bupa has recently announced its intention to sell its UK Protection and Risk Business, Bupa Health Assurance Ltd, to Resolution for £165.5m. Resolution has recently completed the purchase of the majority of the UK Life arm of AXA, having also bought Friends Provident last year. I can really see the strategic fit for Resolution as it looks to boost its market share through portfolio acquisition. I’m struggling to see the Bupa rationale other than an opportunity for raising what might be, some much needed cash. (more…)

OFT looks into Private Healthcare Sector

Oct 15, 2010

Ali Parsa, the ex-Goldman Sachs banker and now head of the new hospital group Circle, has put a complaint into the OFT that agreements between big hospital groups and private medical insurers are anti-competitive. This should be of interest to employers who pay for private medical insurance. For details of Mr Parsa’s complaint, see this article on the University of Bristol website. (more…)

Institute for Health and Productivity Management

Oct 14, 2010

You might not have heard of this U.S. Organisation but they have published an excellent report, ‘Health Asset Management – A Roadmap for Improving the Health of Your Employees and Your Organization’

I recommend that anyone with responsibility for the health and wellbeing strategy in their organisation takes the time to read what they have to say. It has been put together by The Change Agent Work Group (CAWG) which is a group of industry thought leaders and influencers looking to improve American workforce health and productivity. (more…)

Waiting times for NHS Diagnostics up 50%

Oct 11, 2010

According to the latest Department of Health data, the number of patients waiting more than six weeks for diagnostic tests rose by over 50% at the end of August. The data covers the waiting times for 15 diagnostic tests carried out on the NHS, including MRI, CT Scans and colonoscopies.

In the past year, a number of insurers have launched products aimed at offering faster access to private diagnostic services. If NHS waiting times continue to increase, more providers will be looking to fill this time gap which is a significant factor in absence and rehabilitation costs.

Those employers who have relied upon, what was perceived as improving NHS wait times as part of their employee healthcare strategy, might have to review the financial impact of this aspect of the service getting worse.

Cancer and The Equality Act

Oct 05, 2010

As employers get to grips with the provisions of the new Equality Act that came into force 1st October, a recent survey from the Cancer Charity Macmillan shows that many do not realise that employees diagnosed with cancer are covered under disability discrimination. At the same time, less than 40% of those employees know their rights under the Act.

Macmillan’s report ‘ Making It Work’ is a very good guide for employers and the 700,000 people of working age who are currently living with the condition.

Employee Benefits Show 2010

Oct 01, 2010

If you went recently, you would have seen that roughly 70% of all trade stands and exhibitors had some offering in the ever growing health and wellbeing industry. Along side household names were a whole host of smaller service providers, particularly those promoting various types of private health screening. By co-incidence, the UK National Screening Committee has just released its guidance on private health screening for the public. I recommend that employers read this to help them weigh up the pros and cons of such a purchase for their workforce. (more…)

Training GPs – money well spent?

Sep 30, 2010

I recently went to one of the workshops on Health and Work for General Practitioners run by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP). The DWP has invested £1m in this series of workshops up to March 2011 on the back of the Fit Note launch earlier this year. I was keen to see the current GP perspective and whether this is money well spent. Whilst it is not clear as to how the success of the programme will be measured – which is a major drawback – from what I could see, it has all the makings of a good investment. (more…)

British Heart Foundation

Sep 24, 2010

The BHF have approached me again to help publicise their Health at Work Programme. In a press release issued today, they make reference to a recent survey which showed that 35% of workers avoided exercise during the working day because they don’t want to be seen getting hot and sweaty in front of colleagues. Avoiding the temptation to make any obvious, witty remarks, that still leaves 65% who are comfortable including exercise in their daily schedule. I think that’s pretty encouraging.

Amongst the survey statistics, we learn that 81% of workers fail to get the recommended level of exercise a week, with 48% eating lunch at their desks.

As the BHF points out, employers are in a strong position to influence more positive health behaviour at little or no cost. Have a look at their website to see whether there are any ideas you could use in your own organisation.

Apprentice celebrity Claire Young is supporting the campaign. World Heart Day takes place this Sunday 26th September.

Bearing in mind the serious underlying statistics around the massive impact of poor cardiovascular health, I am more than happy to bring this to your attention.

Body and Soul

Sep 23, 2010

This is the catchy title of a piece of research carried out by The Work Foundation that looks at the impact of co-morbity (having more than one health condition) on people of working age. At 96 pages, it’s a meaty tome with a great deal of clinical reference and a large bibliography.

In essence, what they are saying is that all the stakeholders in employee health, i.e. employers, health professionals, and policy makers, need to act more cohesively to manage the link between chronic physical and mental health conditions and not prevent or treat either in isolation. (more…)

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