Aviva: Workers lack protection but don’t believe they will need it
Posted on: November 21st, 2011 | No CommentsMore than half of UK workers (52%) would be unable to survive financially for more than three months if they were off work with an illness, suggests new research from Aviva. The insurer’s survey of 1,000 employees in October found that around a third (30%) thought they would survive for less than a month while [Read More …]
Nuffield Health to acquire BMI clinic
Posted on: November 21st, 2011 | No CommentsNuffield Health is to acquire the BMI Oxford Clinic, which will be relocated to new facilities at The Manor Hospital. The Clinic currently provides a range of services, including orthopaedic and spine surgery, physiotherapy and a sports injuries clinic. The agreement proposes that Nuffield Health’s Manor Hospital, also based in Headington, a mile from the [Read More …]
‘Historic’ deal sees NHS trust run by private hospital group offering NHS patients Michelin-starred chefs
Posted on: November 14th, 2011 | No CommentsThe NHS has signed a history-making deal with a private hospital group which will run a debt-laden hospital for ten years. Contracts were signed yesterday evening between Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust and Circle, which will take over the management of the hospital from 1 February 2012.. The clinical and non-clinical services will continue to [Read More …]
Ageas Protect grows IFA market share to 7.8%
Posted on: November 14th, 2011 | 1 CommentTotal gross written premium inflow almost doubled at Ageas Protect in the third quarter to £31.3m compared to the same period last year. Figures released today by the protection provider and general insurer show that new annual premiums rose to £23.4m, up from £13.2m in Q3 2010. The provider, which was launched in 2008, now [Read More …]
NHS faces ‘perfect storm’ of rising cancer cases and squeezed finances
Posted on: November 2nd, 2011 | No CommentsThe NHS must start planning now to deal with a rise of 45% in the number of new cancer cases in the UK over the next two decades, Cancer Research UK warns today. The number of cancer cases is projected to climb from around 298,000 in 2007 to around 432,000 by 2030 and the charity [Read More …]
Insurers urged to help over 60s hang on to PMI
Posted on: November 2nd, 2011 | No CommentsInsurers need to do more to ensure that private medical insurance (PMI) remains affordable as clients get older and the NHS struggles to meet their needs, according to intermediaries and insurers. Advisers have told Health Insurance that more could be done to help people fund private healthcare into their 60s, when they are more likely [Read More …]
Intermediaries ‘in the dark’ about Bupa change
Posted on: October 28th, 2011 | 1 CommentCorporate advisers have told Health Insurance that they have not received information from Bupa about its Open Referral process. Following the publication of our story yesterday, intermediaries revealed it was the first they had heard of the change. Intermediaries at Lorica Employee Benefits, Gallagher Employee Benefits and ADVO Group reported that nobody in their firm [Read More …]
MPs ‘shocked’ by delays in NHS scans and radiotherapy
Posted on: October 28th, 2011 | 2 CommentsMPs are concerned about whether the NHS will be able meet the growing demand for scans and radiotherapy at the same time as delivering £20bn of efficiency savings by 2015 in a tough financial climate. The Commons Public Accounts Committee’s report on the NHS’s use of high cost equipment (MRI and CT scanners and radiotherapy [Read More …]
NHS patients opting for private centres ‘younger and wealthier’
Posted on: October 24th, 2011 | No CommentsYounger, wealthier patients are opting to undergo treatment in independent sector treatment centres (ISTCs) via the NHS Choose and Book system, according to new data. A study of the patients undergoing elective surgery for hip or knee replacement, hernia repair, or surgery for varicose veins in 72 NHS centres and 25 ISTCs found that the [Read More …]
Increase in FOS complaints across health and protection
Posted on: October 24th, 2011 | No CommentsThere were 150 complaints about private medical insurance (PMI) made to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) between July and September this year, up from 95 in the previous quarter. Complaints across all products were up by 24% over the last quarter, excluding payment protection insurance (PPI). The number of complaints about PPI fell from 56,025 [Read More …]
