WTW is making Boutros Bear’s clinically governed chronic pain programme available to employers through its healthcare concierge service.
The programme combines physiotherapy, clinical input from Boutros Bear clinicians, and psychological support, delivered digitally so that referred members can begin without the long waits typically associated with NHS pathways.
While a core part of the programme is educational content that helps members understand pain itself, including the role of sleep and the neuroscience that drives pain, it also includes dietary advice relevant to long-term pain conditions, alongside on-demand, graded return-to-exercise classes. It is designed to support long-term behavioural change rather than short-term symptom relief.
For employers, the partnership aims to reduce pain-related absence, support earlier intervention, and give healthcare concierge nurses a clear, fast referral route for members presenting with chronic pain or musculoskeletal (MSK)-related concerns affecting their work.
Referrals are made by WTW’s healthcare concierge nursing team via a warm handover, with members typically starting the programme within a week of referral. The programme was co-designed with a pain consultant, and Boutros Bear’s wider clinical team is made up of experts in their fields, including CBT and acceptance-based therapists, enabling the delivery of a structured, evidence-based approach to pain management.
John Collins, senior director, health and benefits consulting GB at WTW, said: “People living with chronic pain often face barriers to productivity and workforce participation. Our research highlights chronic conditions as a key area of focus for employers, which they are looking to tackle when addressing employee absence.
“This development not only demonstrates our commitment to evolving our healthcare concierge service for our clients but enables us to increase our capacity to support our members when they need it most.”
Sheila Kissane-Marshall, founder and CEO of Boutros Bear, added: “Chronic pain is one of the most common, and most under-supported, conditions, and a leading reason people have high rates of absence or leave the workplace.
“We’re enormously proud to be working with WTW to give healthcare concierge members a fast, clinically led route to support that helps employees understand their pain and build lasting habits to recover and thrive.”
