The philosophy of “prevention is better than cure” is nothing new in healthcare, but employers can now encourage staff to stay well by giving them digital tools that help them take responsibility for their own health.

Digital health services in the UK have seen a significant increase in recent years, especially since the pandemic, which accelerated the adoption of telemedicine and digital health tools.

1. Telehealth Usage: The use of telehealth services surged during the pandemic, with a reported 40% of GP appointments being conducted remotely by 2021. Prior to the pandemic, only about 1% of GP consultations were conducted by phone or video.
2. NHS Digital Services: The NHS reported a significant rise in the use of its digital services. For example, the NHS App, which allows patients to book appointments, order prescriptions, and access health records, saw a 900% increase in downloads during 2020. As of 2023, it had over 30 million users.
3. Investment in Digital Health: The UK government has increased investments in digital health technologies. The NHS Long Term Plan, launched in 2019, aims to make digital health services the default method of accessing healthcare by 2024. This includes expanding access to digital consultations, using AI for diagnostics, and increasing the availability of online mental health support.
4. Mental Health Support: There has been a notable increase in the use of digital mental health services. Online therapy and mental health apps have grown in popularity, with platforms like IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) offering digital therapy options that have seen increased uptake.

Overall, the landscape of digital health services in the UK has dramatically evolved, with both patients and healthcare providers increasingly relying on these tools to deliver and access care (Deloitte United States).

As well as benefits to help staff maintain their health like OnDemand GP and Employee Assistance Programmes, many employers now offer preventive wellbeing measures that place emphasis on exercise, sleep, healthy food, and stress reduction, which have a significant impact on preventing underlying conditions.

However, wellbeing services should always be a complement to, not a replacement for insurance provision. Employees still need to have insurance as a safety net to cover treatment. The question is: how can employers blend digital health services with insurance provision to get the most value from their employee benefits budget? 

Employee-paid health insurance plans

Some companies face a dilemma: they want to keep workers safe and productive, but a limited benefits budget means they are unable to provide cover for ill health. For these employers, the best solution may be to partner with an insurer who can provide workers with easy access to cost-effective, individual policies. Employees also value the chance to safeguard themselves from the impact of ill health on their earnings.

OnDemand GP

We all know that finding the time to speak to a doctor can be difficult, with extended waiting times and unhelpful surgery opening hours. Giving staff access to on-demand GP appointments means that staff can speak to a medical professional via telephone or video consultation, 24 hours a day, and often within a few hours of their request.

As well as providing reassurance on minor problems, online GP appointments can help employees manage their long-term health conditions, preventing extended sickness leave. And it’s available for the employee’s family too, which can be helpful for reducing the amount of time parents have to take off to care for a sick child.

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Employees may be suffering from conditions which are not obvious from the outside but have a severe impact on daily life and can be difficult to discuss in a work context. Mental health conditions are especially hard to identify, and fear of stigma or lack of understanding may prevent sufferers from seeking help.

Recent data indicates that mental health issues are now costing UK employers an estimated £51 billion per year, a significant rise from the previous £38 billion in 2018. This loss is driven primarily by presenteeism, where employees are at work but not functioning at full capacity, and absenteeism due to mental health issues. Additionally, the broader economic cost of mental health problems in the UK is approximately £118 billion annually, highlighting the substantial impact on both businesses and the economy.

Investing in mental health initiatives not only supports employees but also provides a strong return on investment, with every £1 spent on mental health yielding an average of £4.70 in increased productivity​ (Deloitte United States)​ (Mental Health Foundation).

It’s clear that proactive management and prevention of mental health issues are not just ethical imperatives but also sound financial strategies for employers.

You can help by providing flexible support; for example an EAP helpline. Employees can access the EAP confidentially, via their own device, in the privacy of their home – or indeed anywhere they feel comfortable. EAPs offer advice on a huge range of complex issues, from mental health to debt advice to addiction.

Resource library

There’s so much health advice out there - and often contradictory - that it can be useful for employees to have everything in one place, coming from a trusted source. A dedicated resource library is a great place to host information which will help people manage their health – and it can be accessed 24/7 online via smartphone.

Fitness technology

In recent years we’ve seen a surge of interest in wearable fitness technology and apps that help people stay motivated and improve their health by tracking activity, exercise, food, weight and sleep.

Being able to set your own targets and track progress towards a goal is an important part of taking accountability for our own health. Employers can help by giving their staff access to these products through discounts or a technology benefit scheme.

Workers need support to help protect their health. In the current climate, employers should think about their current provision and if it can be optimised to support a resilient and productive workforce. Transform™ is a complete employee  wellbeing solution that employees can access through their Hapi app

Learn more about protecting your workforce with Personal Group’s affordable insurance plans or contact us.