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In Brief

July 2010 News

NHS TO PUBLSIH MRSA DATA

Rates of hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA will be published by hospitals on a weekly basis, the government has announced. The infection rate for MRSA and Clostridium difficile (C.Diff) at NHS hospitals is already published on the NHS Choices website but only on a yearly basis and as an average for each NHS trust (which may comprise several hospitals). Information about infection rates at private hospitals is not available for comparison on NHS Choices although it is available on individual hospital groups’ websites. For example, Nuffield Health reported no cases of MRSA in its hospitals in 2008 (last available data) and four cases of C.Diff.

1 IN 3 DELAY HEALTH CHECKS

One in three people is putting off medical checks because of concern about costs, suggests new research commissioned by cash plan provider HSF. The survey of over 2,000 people, conducted in June, found that 32% of men are delaying a visit to the dentist or optician compared to 43% of women.

EMPLOYERS PLAN HEALTH REVIEWS

More employers are planning to review their health and wellbeing benefits than their pensions arrangements in the coming year, research suggests. A survey of 436 companies by Thomsons Online Benefits shows that while 32% of employers plan to reconsider their health and wellbeing strategy, slightly fewer (29.6%) plan to look again at their their pension scheme while fewer still plan to introduce total reward statements (21%). The survey also shows that reward professionals are more confident about the coming year as the UK emerges from an 18 month recession.

ONE IN FOUR MULL FUNERAL INSURANCE

A third of adults in the UK currently have a funeral insurance policy or would contemplate buying one in future, suggests a consumer survey conducted by YouGov. The SixthSense report found that 11% of the 2,125 respondents had already entered into a policy to ensure that the costs of their funeral or the funeral of a close relative will be met while a further 26% do not currently have a policy that will pay for a funeral costs, but would consider one in the future.

GROUP RISK COSTS ‘TO RISE’

Insurers and reinsurers are warning that they will have to increase the cost of group risk benefits, according to research from Aon Consulting. The employee benefits firm’s annual survey of insurers and reinsurers who provide group risk benefits in the corporate market found that while the cost of providing life, critical illness (CI) and income protection (IP) cover was cheaper in 2009 than 2008 many underwriters predict that these cost reductions will not persist during the year to come. Half of the insurers and reinsurers surveyed believe they will have to increase the cost of IP insurance and 38% expect lump sum life assurance rates to rise. Not one insurer expects the cost of CI cover to decrease and 29% expect to see increases. Death in service pension costs are expected to remain static by 57% of those surveyed, while 29% predict an increase.

FRIENDS PROV ADDS EAP TO GIP

Friends Provident has added an employee assistance programme (EAP) to its group income protection (GIP) plans. All members of new and existing schemes will be able to access the helpline, which includes access to up to six face-to-face counselling sessions and a debt management service staffed by advisers who can talk to creditors on behalf of members. The helpline also provides advice for members who care for children, elderly or disabled relatives, and practical human resources and legal guidance for employers. ‘Free’ EAPs are already part of the group risk offering of Friends Provident’s competitors Unum, Canada Life, Aviva and Legal & General. However, some intermediaries argue that companies are better advised to invest in a standalone, bespoke EAP.

WESTFIELD HEALTH COMP WINNER

Health Insurance is pleased to announce that David Burke from Platinum Health Insurance Services was the winner of last month’s competition to win a state-of-the-art laptop, sponsored by cash plan provider Westfield Health. We asked when was the last time there was a premium increase to Westfield Health’s Level 1 Foresight Plan – the answer was 1999. Congratulations to David, who wins an HP DM3 ultra lightweight notebook. Westfield has recently added a number of new features to its Foresight plan, without increasing the cost of Level 1 or Level 2.

FORTIS ADDS BEST DOCTORS

Fortis Life is the latest insurer to add the second medical opinion service Best Doctors to its protection offering. Policyholders of the insurer’s critical illness (CI), income protection and Real Life Cover plans will all be able to access the service. Fortis has made other changes to its YourLife Plan CI cover, including a new definition – multiple system atrophy, a rare degenerative neurological disorder. The insurer has also amended the definitions of existing covered conditions.

NHS PATIENTS ‘UNAWARE’ OF CHOICE

NHS patients are not using comparative data to choose a hospital for their treatment and have little awareness of the possibility of accessing private providers, according to a new report. Health think tank The King’s Fund conducted research with patients, GPs and both NHS and private providers of care. Just 4% of the 2,181 patients surveyed consulted the NHS Choices website when choosing a provider. Instead they relied heavily on their own experience (41%), that of friends and family (10%) or the advice of their GP (36%).

OVER 50s ‘UNAWARE’ OF LTC PRODUCTS

Over 50s are unaware of the financial products available to fund the cost of long-term care and would not consider seeking guidance from a financial adviser, according to a survey conducted by immediate needs annuity provider Partnership. Only 11% of the 467 survey respondents said they would contact their local authority for advice on funding options while 4% said they would contact a financial adviser and 3% would contact a care home. Most said they did not know about any of the funding products available (76%) and when prompted only 12% had heard of a long-term care annuity. Over half (53%) said they would sell their home to finance their care fees.

WELFARE REFORM COMES INTO EFFECT

All current claimants of incapacity benefits will be reassessed for eligibility for state support, the government has announced. The policy represents continuity with the previous government’s programme to reduce the numbers claiming employment support allowance (ESA), by conducting work capability assessments. Under this system just 5% of claimants are found incapable of work. Currently 2.6 million people are on incapacity benefits.

GPs: ‘WE LACK TIME’

GPs believe that a lack of time with patients is affecting their ability to conduct diagnosis, according to a new survey from Aviva UK Health. The insurer’s fourth annual Health of the Workplace report includes a poll of 200 GPs. This year it found that 57% of GPs say they have less time to see patients than five years ago and 43% say a lack of time is affecting their ability to diagnose. While nine in ten GPs (89%) feel that ideally they would spend up to 20 minutes with each patient, current practice is to schedule doctors’ appointments for 10 minutes each. Additional research conducted by Aviva earlier this year showed that nearly two-thirds (63%) of 2,696 people surveyed thought that NHS appointments were “always rushed”.