A new report has found long NHS wait times are having a profound financial impact on businesses in the UK. Specialist healthcare provider, HCML’s recent corporate health and wellbeing report found that nearly 60% of employees said they struggled with getting access to NHS services.
The HCML report found that nearly two-thirds of employees surveyed demonstrated frustration with NHS wait times. When pitched against other data gathered in the survey this suggests that a lack of access to NHS services is contributing to employee absence as health conditions are left untreated.
The survey also found that 20.04% of employees cited that they were unable to get time off work to attend appointments or access the necessary support or treatment. For those with minor illnesses, this lack of access to available treatment suggests that their conditions could become worse which may then lead to an absence from work. Workplace absence is a significant cost for businesses year on year.
The report also found a disconnect between what employers’ think is important when it comes to health and wellbeing and what employees have access to. Just 36.58% of employees say they have access to private healthcare but 47% of employers think that providing private healthcare is important. The report shows that employers are keen to support their employees with healthcare options but are not hitting the mark when it comes to specific solutions.
Only 31.41% of employees say they access health and wellbeing services provided by their employer, yet 52.29% say they feel they need more support from their employer to improve their health and wellbeing. In addition, 9.25% of employees are also not sure how and where to access health and wellbeing support services. Employers therefore need to find alternative approaches to enable employees to access the support they need.
Pamela Gellatly, Strategic Development Director, HCML, says:
Where our NHS cannot provide help for medical issues, employers must offer solutions that help prevent ill health in the first place and actively engage employees to take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing. This is where providing access to private healthcare for the common conditions that lead to an absence, for example, mental health and musculoskeletal disorders, can be very cost-effective.
Pamela Gellatly, Strategic Development Director, HCML
With 56.39% of employees saying they struggle getting NHS appointments it is incumbent on employers to offer a solution and access to healthcare. Only 34% of the employees surveyed said their employer offered wellbeing programmes. Data from HCML’s services over many years clearly identifies that the underlying cause of absence and claims are related to wellbeing issues such as excess weight, inactivity and other lifestyle behaviours in 85% of cases.
Addressing these factors could close the gap on people needing to see their GP for common conditions and reduce cost for employers over the longer term, by reducing the risk of ill health and combining this with active health management of the ‘whole person’ and not just their symptoms. Pamela Gellatly, adds:
It’s imperative that health and wellbeing initiatives are clearly communicated across the business so employees understand what the benefits are and how to access them. Having effective strategies in place can help employees feel more supported, reduce possible absence time and reduce pressures on the NHS.
Joanne is the editor for Workplace Wellbeing Professional and has a keen interest in promoting the safety and wellbeing of the global workforce. After earning a bachelor's degree in English literature and media studies, she taught English in China and Vietnam for two years. Before joining Work Well Pro, Joanne worked as a marketing coordinator for luxury property, where her responsibilities included blog writing, photography, and video creation.