Traditionally, an appointment with the GP involved a journey to the local surgery, but in response to a growing demand for fast access to GPs the private sector is introducing an innovative, and more flexible way to see a GP.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) – the organisation which represents the private health industry – says new policies are being written to offer virtual GP care. Furthermore, the CIPD – the professional organisation for people working in HR and people development - says HR departments are being approached to trial private GP virtual services. CIPD’s policy advisor for pay and reward, Charles Cotton, says: “I think this is a new emerging market, especially with the whole issue of employee wellbeing.”
The ABI’s policy advisor (protection and health), Charlie Campbell, agrees: “There is an increasing demand for policies which include virtual GP services and apps. Some insurers are selling that as an add-on to existing policies while others are providing it to all members [of] individual schemes.” Difficulty making an appointment with an NHS GP and the growing business awareness about the economic benefits of a healthy workforce are behind the changes: “Employees also recognise it as a benefit and this is also driving demand,” he adds.
HCA Healthcare UK – the world’s largest private health provider – is responding to that demand.
For the last year it has included telemedicine – receiving medical help from a doctor over the phone – as an option for its corporate clients whose policies include private GP cover. Dr Gill MacLeod, a GP and executive director of HCA UK’s primary care services, says: “Telemedicine gives us more flexibility to support people when leaving the office may be difficult or in cases where a person is working from home.”
She reveals HCA UK’s 1,500 corporate clients – traditionally accountant, financial services, banking and technology companies – are increasingly requesting access to private GP services as an additional block of medical cover. “They see it as a way of talent retention,” says MacLeod. “The vast majority of our patients will spend up to two hours a day commuting so find it difficult to visit their local NHS GP. It’s a really big advantage to be able to pop out for a 15-minute telephone consultation and then get on with your working day.” Feedback from HCA UK’s patients is positive. “We are currently in a changing healthcare market – what people want is quality and convenient access to a GP. Our patients are getting a speedy service, continuity and choice. But I am very conscious of the fact that with all of these services we must work respectfully with the NHS.”
The 75 GPs employed by HCA UK in London, Glasgow and Manchester deal with an average 10,000 appointments every month. Offering same day or next day appointments, the GPs work in a variety of settings – some run surgeries in client’s own offices; others are based in HCA UK clinics. In London they can be found at seven sites across the capital from Canary Wharf to Victoria station. Patients have access to their own medical record via a cloud-based system, which means they can share information with their own NHS GP when necessary.
Outside the corporate sector, opportunities are also being developed for others without employee health cover, who want access to a private GP service.
Eighteen months ago HCA UK launched a monthly subscription service for individual patients called MyGPiTrust. Costing around £30 a month, the price includes an annual flu jab and unlimited face-to-face GP appointments at any HCA UK clinic; a telemedicine service is also available following a full medical check-up.
MacLeod explains: “There is a real need for this service and we want to make it affordable. We have a cloud-based record system so if a patient, for example, goes to a clinic in the morning at Tower Bridge and undergoes tests and the results come through later that day, they can opt to see somebody at Canary Wharf if that is more convenient.”
MacLeod believes the expansion of private GP services benefits the NHS because it takes the pressure off the system, freeing up GP appointments for others. “I was brought up by two NHS doctors and I am very familiar with how the NHS used to be and how we are now dealing with an increasing ageing population and increasing demand.
“It seems to me that what we are offering is a viable alternative which compliments the NHS – it frees up NHS GP appointments for people who need them,” she says.
To find out more about Roodlane’s services visit roodlane.co.uk. HCA Healthcare UK is currently recruiting for a range of opportunities for GPs. For more information and to find out more visit hcacareers.co.uk
