Insurer WPA has forged a partnership with online GP Medical Solutions to give its customers and staff unlimited access to the service.
The health insurer’s large corporate, small- to medium-sized enterprises, retail customers and staff will now have unlimited access to Medical Solutions' remote GP service.
Under the terms of the cover, WPA's policyholders will benefit from the reassurance of the GP service for advice and treatment for health and medical concerns, particularly at a time when people cannot go to their local GP or visit A&E due to coronavirus concerns.
The service provides 24/7 access to a GP helpline including unlimited phone or video consultations; a private prescription service and specialist referrals if required.
According to Brian Goodman, director of corporate at WPA, this will be made available over the coming weeks to all SME and retail health insurance customers at no extra cost.
Mr Goodman said: "Remote GP services are so important in this day and age for patients and customers to quickly and conveniently access the quality care that they need.
"More so today, alleviating pressure upon doctors and NHS facilities, creating viable and effective alternatives to face to face consultations."
He said WPA had conducted an "extensive review" of the market and found Medical Solutions was "best prepared" for leveraging the latest technologies.
According to Mr Goodman: "Medical Solutions complements our overall objective helping customers access the best care at a time and place of their choosing.
In addition, WPA is also authorising telephone consultations with specialists and therapists to help customers access the benefits of their WPA cover.
Paul Nattrass, commercial director at Medical Solutions, said: “WPA only partners with like-minded companies and prides itself on delivering innovative services to its members through the latest technologies.
"We are therefore delighted that WPA will be providing even more value to its members with our 24/7 GP service.
“Our remote GP service can be used by members at any time, both independently or when claiming under their healthcare plan, and provides convenient, simple access to the primary care solutions people need, whenever they need it.”
Online services such as GP access, mental health counselling, wellbeing initiatives, physiotherapy and consultant booking have become more popular over the past few months as the Covid-19 pandemic extends across the world.
In March, insurer AIG revealed more of its policyholders than ever had been using its online medical services, suggesting a trend towards people remaining indoors instead of visiting hospitals to avoid the risk of contagion.
simoney.kyriakou@ft.com
