Healthcare trust provider Healix has seen a 200% increase in the number of GP appointments that workers have taken up via their company since 2021, as NHS waiting lists continue to rise.
Since October 2022, the uptake of appointments has increased by 70%.
This comes as the company has experienced a surge 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.
The NHT waiting list soared past a record 7.7 million people in August, amid warnings this figure could rise to 8 million by 2024.
Healix said it has experienced an 18% increase in members since 2022, with turnover increasing by 80% in the last 18 months.
The news comes as an increasing number of people are using private healthcare, with a poll by the IHPN finding that those aged 18-24 were most likely to have used it, and with 45% saying they have gone private for a GP appointment.
The latest NHS digital data on GP appointments carried out in June showed that some two million appointments were delivered between 15 and 21 days after they were booked.
A report by the BMA found that the overall number of NHS GPs had seen little growth since 2015, with the number of GP partners declining significantly over that time. This was despite promises by the government in 2020 to recruit 6,000 GPs by 2024.
Ian Talbot, CEO at Healix, (pictured) 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.
“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.”