There has been a 400 per cent increase in the usage of the virtual GP since the start of the Covid pandemic, according to one employee benefits insurer.
Unum has said that its Help@hand app, launched last year as a free benefit on its group risk policies, is now being used by 165,000 employees – and can also be accessed by partners and children.
Unum says the number of employees downloading the app increased by 88 per cent from April to June this year (when compared to the period form November to March). During this period some 2,227 consultations were booked, and increase of 400 per cent on the earlier period.
The app, offering via Square Health offers a range of added value services including a virtual GP, physiotherapy and mental health services plus an employee assistance programme.
Unum says that services like Help@hand demonstrates that these value added options can appeal to significant numbers of employees, with usage indicating this has provided real value to employees, whether they are working from home, have returned to the workplace or remain on furlough.
The company says ensuring staff have easy access to health and wellbeing support can help employers minimise absence, improve productivity and keep employees present and engaged.
Unum UK CEO Peter O’Donnell says: ”I’m absolutely delighted that demand is continuing to grow and that so many people are using the Help@hand service. Our priority remains to provide quality services that are relevant, easy to access, and offer vital support to employees and their families when needed.
“We’re continuing to listen to our customers and are using that feedback to shape our future development plans. As we assess the impact of Covid-19 for healthcare, we are absolutely committed to continuing to innovate, evolve and enhance Help@hand to ensure we remain agile and responsive to the changing needs of our customers and the market.”
