Virtual GPs represent one of the fastest growing areas of employee benefits. The technology allows staff to conveniently arrange time with a GP via their smartphone, doing away with the need for time off work to visit their local surgery. It really is win-win for both employees and employers.
The NHS launched this service in London in 2017 using Babylon’s technology 1 and have now rolled this out in Birmingham and Solihull. The private healthcare market has been offering similar services nationwide since 2015, Vitality leading the way in this area via their ‘Vitality GP’ app.
BUPA Healthcare, the largest health insurance provider in the UK, have today announced the expansion of their Virtual GP service, also using Babylon’s technology. This was initially launched to the SME market in 2019 but as 1st of January 2020, this will feature on all their SME and corporate plans. 2
In a recent survey by Babylon and BUPA, it was found that nearly 49% of business decision makers think that access to online health advice could boost employee well-being.3 It also found that nearly 6 in 10 employees would like to book in with a GP through an app, without taking time on work. 4
In today’s fast paced society and with such rapid advancements in technology, it is now vital ensure that your employees have the flexibility to manage their well-being without the need to take time out of work.
Brunel Employee Benefits are an independent provider of employee benefits and healthcare packages. To find out more, please contact Anders Lewis on 0117 325 2224 or at andersl@bruneleb.co.uk.
1 https://www.gpathand.nhs.uk/
2 http://comms.bupa.com/interface/external_view_email.php?A93862557998308986263520554427
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3 Bupa/Babylon. Health app testing. Based on 525 business decision makers. January 2019.
4 Bupa/Babylon. Health app testing – employees. Based on 524 employees. January 2019.
