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| Newswire Edition 31 - February 2009 |
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| | | Dear Intermediary,
Welcome to the February edition of Newswire, our regular newsletter designed to give you a snapshot of the latest developments and news from the healthcare arena. 
The Commons health select committee has criticised government plans for polyclinics, saying there is insufficient evidence to introduce them in every part of the country.
Under the plans, each of the 152 primary care trusts (PCTs) in England will introduce a polyclinic, open from 8am to 8pm seven days a week. These GP-led health clinics will offer a range of services including diagnostic testing, X-rays and minor surgery.
However, the health select committee was not convinced that every PCT would benefit from polyclinics and called for national criteria to be introduced to determine whether a PCT needed one. It also criticised the government for planning to introduce polyclinics without prior pilots and adequate evaluation.
Guardian, January 13, 2009
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Companies are failing to manage their employee absence rates effectively because of a lack of good data, according to Mercer's 2008 Pan-European Health & Benefit Report.
The survey found that although the majority of respondents can access details on the number of days employees are absent, only 42 per cent held data on the cause of absence and just a third had details of the direct cost of absence.
But good management data can help reduce costs to the employer. Steve Clements, principal in Mercer's health and benefits business, said: "In the current high-pressure and uncertain employment environment, it is important to quickly identify the causes of ill health and effectively target support services to these areas."
The report also found that the average European absence rate was 7.4 days a year, against an average rate of 5.1 days in a comparable US survey conducted by Mercer.
Mercer's 2008 Pan-European Health & Benefit Report, January 8, 2009
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Following a Department of Health ruling, mobiles can now be used in hospitals. The ruling stated that NHS trusts should allow 'the widest possible use' of mobile phones in hospitals. However, as there is evidence that the electromagnetic radiation they emit can interfere with some electronic medical equipment, the ban will still be in place in areas such as wards with life-saving equipment.
Rules are also relaxing in other areas where mobiles have been banned. For instance, some airlines have introduced hardware that enables mobiles to be used safely during flights.
Guardian, January 8, 2009
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Employee benefits have an important role to play in improving employee morale and performance.
Supporting this, Unum's annual Job Satisfaction Survey found a strong correlation between absence and job satisfaction. For employees with job satisfaction levels of 20 per cent or lower, the average number of sick days was 10 per year, compared with five days for employees with satisfaction levels of 80 per cent or more.
All types of employee benefits, from financially-orientated benefits such as pensions and savings products to those focused on health and wellbeing, can have a positive effect on employee health and morale.
Support services, such as employee assistance programmes (EAPs), can also play a key role, enabling employees to access advice and information on problems that might adversely affect them.
Cover, January 2009
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Stress-related problems are on the increase as a result of the recession. As an example, AXA PPP healthcare has seen the number of finance and debt-related calls to its employee assistance programme (EAP) double in the last six months.
Helping employers, especially in the SME market, to build employee resilience to stress can be low cost but pay dividends for advisers.
The first step in beating stress in the workplace is to implement a formal stress policy, a sample of which can be obtained from the Health and Safety Executive (www.hse.gov.uk/stress).
An EAP is also useful, giving employees access to advice and support. These can be bought on a stand-alone basis or may be included with another product such as income protection.
Common sense advice is also important. Examples of this include improving communication to employees to avoid rumours and anxiety, and helping employees to lead healthier lifestyles by encouraging exercise or providing fruit or healthy canteens.
Corporate Adviser, January 2009
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Access to NHS dentistry could become harder during the economic downturn, as fewer overseas dentists come to Britain to work, it has been claimed.
Panellists at a debate held in Westminster this week agreed that the recession could only make it harder for people to see an NHS dentist. Not only will there be fewer overseas dentists coming to the UK to work - which has been seen as one way of plugging the gap in NHS services - but fewer private dentists are seeking to return to working for the health service.
The debate, hosted by Denplan, the dental funding provider, heard that there has been a "disappointing" failure to move dental care toward a more preventative approach. Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, said that NHS dentistry remains "national illness dentistry" and is not focused enough on improving people's oral health. Other speakers at the debate suggested that dentists are struggling to cope with new NHS contractual agreements and face an uncertain future.
Health Insurance, 16 January 2009
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