A CHANGING workforce demographic that sees employees faced with a range of different health challenges in their working lives, coupled with an NHS facing increasing delivery pressures, poses a challenge for employers eager to improve and resolve their workforce’s anxiety as healthcare concerns.
Figures to September 2016 show an NHS waiting list of 3.9 million people, with trusts across the country also struggling to meet key performance indicators, with RTT (referral to treatment) times (maximum of 18 weeks) in surgical areas such as cataract removals, hernia repairs, hip/knee replacements and diagnostic services being missed.
We should be justly proud of our NHS, as it represents the best performance by a nation offering universal healthcare coverage at point claim in the western world.
However, these figures are a real cause for concern for businesses, as waiting times naturally impact on the health and wellbeing of their employees. At Redwood Employee Benefits we’re seeing an increasing desire from employers to actively engage and responsibly seek to improve their employees’ work-life balance, reduce work-related stress levels and take away the worry of waiting for NHS treatment.
By 2030, it is estimated that 48 per cent of men and 43 per cent of women will be obese. In 2015/16 over four million were diagnosed with diabetes in the UK and by 2025 it is estimated this will rise to five million.
Dementia, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and stroke are the biggest causes of preventable deaths in the UK, and ones that employees need help to diagnose and prevent, along with advice as to what lifestyle choices to make in order to improve their health.
Further, stress related conditions amounted to 488,000 cases in 2015/16 with 11.7 million working days lost directly to these issues.
Westfield Health, established for almost 100 years now, offers a range of innovative cash plans, medical treatment and GP access schemes that impact positively and immediately for employees, while representing a real solution for employers seeking to implement a pro-active health and wellbeing strategy efficiently and effectively.
Their hospital treatment plan is unique to the market and allows employers to offer hospital treatment coverage that includes private surgery and medical treatment. So, rather than facing an anxious wait for an NHS appointment, your employees can be treated quickly and get back to work fit and healthy and at their best sooner.
Westfield’s Hospital Treatment Insurance
* quick, easy access to private consultation, diagnosis, treatment and post-operative physiotherapy
* cases are managed by a dedicated team
* immediate cover – for all new eligible conditions
* premiums don’t increase with claims
* choose from a wide range of consultants, hospitals and treatment centres – private or NHS
To find out more about Access Surgery and Access Surgery Premier, contact Michael Cox
Senior Health and Wellbeing Advisor, Redwood Employee Benefits Services on 01604 661144 or email