Spectrum.Life has agreed a strategic partnership with Northern Ireland primary health and urgent care GP provider Duality Healthcare.
From April 2024, Duality Healthcare memberships, which start at £6.99 per month, will automatically have access to Spectrum.Life’s round-the-clock mental health services.
It will also facilitate establishing a closely connected referral partnership for digital mental health services and neurodiversity assessments which can be accessed by people in Northern Ireland through virtual or face-to-face referrals by Duality Healthcare’s GPs.
In return, Duality Healthcare will offer to Spectrum.Life’s clients in Northern Ireland leading private GP care through their clinics located in Newry, Ballymena, Omagh, Camlough, Belfast and City of Derry as well as through their new Northern Ireland-wide Virtual GP service.
Dr Declan Morgan, CEO of Duality Healthcare, said: “The current public healthcare system in Northern Ireland is no longer meeting the expectations and demands of our community.
“It is crucial for private primary care providers to bolster the services available to the health sector. Mental health support via the NHS has been known to fall short in terms of range and accessibility.
“Combined with an increasing incidence of mental health issues and greater societal realisation and freedom to discuss our mental health, means that traditional provisions are struggling to keep up with demand.
“Not only are we seeing an increase in patients seeking help with their mental health, but greater interest and referral generation in the areas of neurodivergence, both in adults and children.
“Duality is delighted to partner with Spectrum.Life who can provide 24/7 mental health support to our members, ensuring mental health support is timely, on-demand and delivered by experts in the field.
“Spectrum.Life’s suite of services will provide first-in-class support for the people of Northern Ireland and combined with Duality’s growing network of clinics across Northern Ireland and our new province-wide virtual GP service.”
Stephen Costello, CEO of Spectrum.Life, (pictured) added: “Our collaboration is more than a strategic alliance, it is a shared commitment to revolutionising mental health care accessibility to the people in Northern Ireland.
“Together, we are pioneering a digital first holistic approach that underscores the critical role private healthcare plays in bolstering the broader health sector in Northern Ireland.
“By seamlessly integrating our digital mental health services with Duality’s comprehensive healthcare offerings, we are not just breaking barriers, we are building bridges towards a future where wellbeing knows no bounds.
“Together, we will ensure mental health stays patient centred, technologically advanced and open to all.”