A new report finds that long NHS wait times are having a profound financial impact on businesses in the UK. Nearly 60%* of employees said they struggled with getting access to NHS services.
The 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: “When it comes to employee health and wellbeing, employers have a duty of care to provide support for their workforce. This means having the right initiatives in place, providing clear solutions and putting signposts in place to help employees access the right support when it is needed. With a struggling National Health System and long waiting lists, it is not easy to access treatment. 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.”
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: “When it comes to supporting employee health and wellbeing, it’s important to start with a personalised approach to assessment that provides meaningful insight and enables you to identify trends and implement the most appropriate strategies. 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.”
The report highlighted that the smaller the company size, the less private healthcare is offered. However, it also found that more employees are absent with mental health issues in larger companies than in smaller companies. Many different factors may affect these findings; however, research has suggested that ineffective absence management could be to blame in companies with larger workforces. If workplace absence is not monitored or recorded properly it is difficult for companies to see trends in data. By studying these trends solutions are easier to find and healthcare offerings tailored specifically to the needs of your workforce can be put in place. For many employers, providing more in the way of preventative health and wellbeing benefits could be the difference between a healthy, happy and present workforce and in turn a profitable company.
*Report from HCML
