To meet increased corporate demand for virtual GP services, Punter Southall Health & Protection is expanding its Havensrock suite of wellbeing-enabled insurance products and services for companies to now include Med24.
Med24 is a virtual GP service that enables employees to speak to a fully qualified, practising GP, any time of day or night, 365 days a year, from wherever they are in the world.
According to Punter Southall Health and Protection’s Employee Wellbeing Research 2018, the number of companies offering virtual GP services has doubled over the past three years.
Virtual GP services benefit employers in several ways, enabling them to proactively manage employee sickness absence, provide early intervention support and put people in control of their healthcare needs, which can increase employee engagement.
Using the Med24 app, employees can speak with a qualified, practising GP via telephone or in real time through a ‘face-to-face’ e-consultation via webcam, putting an end to the frustrating wait for GP appointments. A recent survey of 700 GPs through Pulse magazine[i] showed that people are now waiting an average of 10 days to see their GP, up from nine days last year. GPs predict this will rise to two weeks by next summer.
Should a Med24 GP feel it is necessary they can also provide a private prescription service, enabling employees to get their medication sent to their home or place of work quickly – which may speed up recovery times. Employees can also access the apps My Health service, which stores their medical notes and helps them find nearby healthcare services, which is particularly useful when they need medical support away from home.
Cheryl Brennan, Director of Corporate Consulting, Punter Southall Health and Protection said, “More employers are incorporating virtual GP services within their health benefits packages. They want to proactively look after their employees’ health and wellbeing and giving them access to round the clock, affordable GP services is the ideal solution. It also makes good business sense – employees are likely to get better more quickly and take less time off work, plus they are less likely to come into work ill.”
“The Med24 service is one of the most cost-effective solutions on the market and we’re delighted to offer it as part of our Havensrock family of products which help employers proactively look after the health and wellbeing of their staff.”
Med24 is delivered in conjunction with established provider Medical Solutions UK Ltd, who have been providing high quality remote GP services for over 20 years through a large team of experienced practising NHS GPs. All Med24 GPs are registered on the NHS England Performers list, GMC registered, undergo clinical audit and performance reviews ensuring the GP service consistently provides high quality.
Med24 can be accessed from anywhere in the world via the App on any smart phone, tablet, laptop or PC or by telephone, without restrictions on the number or duration of consultations. 80% of callers to Med24 get the diagnosis or advice they need without seeing another medical professional.
[i] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/nhs/11583896/Average-GP-waiting-times-will-hit-two-weeks-family-doctors-predict.html