Healix reports doubling of private GP appointments

Healthcare trust provider Healix has experienced a 200 per cent increase in the number of GP appointments workers have taken up via their company since 2021.

Since October 2022, uptake of appointments has increased by 70 per cent.

The company has experienced an increase in demand for its services as employers look to provide further support to employees as accessing primary care has become more difficult as NHS waiting lists reach record levels. Healix has experienced an 18 per cent increase in members since 2022, with turnover increasing by 80 per cent in the last 18 months.

Ian Talbot, CEO at Healix, said: “Companies are now looking more than ever to provide support not just to management level but to all levels of staff.

“We’re seeing demand soaring for quick intervention and the convenience of seeing a doctor remotely. The number of people seeking a referral for hospital treatment via their employers has also risen.”

The news comes as an increasing number of people are using private healthcare, with a recent poll by the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN) finding that those aged 18–24 were most likely to have used it, with 45 per cent saying they have gone private for a GP appointment.

The latest NHS Digital data on GP appointments carried out in June showed that two million appointments were delivered between 15 and 21 days after they were booked.

Talbot added: “As we near winter, when historically pressures have mounted on health services, employers must step up to support workers through quick access to primary care.

“Doing so will help alleviate stretched health services and ensure that employees can bring their best selves to work at a time when accessing primary care has become increasingly challenging, with record numbers out of work due to ill health.”