A Northern Ireland-based adviser has laid down the gauntlet to insurance leaders to tackle the “massive” problem emerging from oversaturation of the private healthcare market and lack of hospital capacity across the country.
At Health & Protection’s second annual Health Summit, Audrey Spence, director at Incorporate Benefits (pictured centre), told a panel of insurance leaders that there were just three private hospitals in her local area and that long waiting lists for treatment and government’s inability to invest in the NHS until recently due suspension of the Stormont administration had led to a “massive, massive” problem.
“I am now starting to see the oversaturation of private healthcare,” Spence told the audience.
“So we’re continuing to take money from companies and to sell private healthcare to employers for the benefits of their employees but at some stage, really imminently, I believe it’s going to be sooner rather than later, we are going to have a problem with saturation.
“For instance, dermatology, it’s six months to see a private dermatologist in Northern Ireland. It’s four months to six months for a neurologist and that is just going to get worse.”
Consequently, Spence asked leaders on the panel if they had any way they could start to invest to tackle these issues and how advisers can combat the problem with clients.
Potential for new hospitals
All four leaders participating in the panel agreed they were aware of the situation and limited capacity.
In response, Dr Keith Klintworth, managing director of VitalityHealth, revealed he had been speaking to a hospital provider which had raised the opportunity of building a new private hospital in Northern Ireland.
“I think adversity brings innovation and disruption. I think new entrants are coming in to open private hospitals,” Dr Klintworth said.
Steve Bridger, managing director of Aviva UK Health, (pictured far right) responded by saying that depending on the cover and the hospital list, some patients could have access to the UK mainland for treatment – as long as it’s clinically safe to travel for access.
Spence interjected by pointing out that Aviva does not pay costs for customers to travel over the Irish Sea for treatment and revealed she had suggested the insurer looked at servicing clients in Dublin, although acknowledged that brings with it legislative limitations.
“That’s the policy,” Bridger responded. “We will have to look at it again at the provision within it.”
Bridger agreed there were also regulatory issues with serving customers across the border in Dublin.
“It’s critical for patient safety and outcome at the moment and it has to be really small numbers for exactly that point around jurisdiction and it becomes illegal,” he continued.
“It’s absolutely something we’re aware of. We’re all aware of. We don’t have a perfect answer.”