Healthcare benefits can help reduce staff absence

Whilst providing healthcare benefits to staff can play a role in helping organisations manage staff absence levels, the cost associated with private medical insurance can seem prohibitive for schools and colleges.

There is, however, an alternative to private medical insurance for schools and colleges; Benenden Healthcare Society - a not-for-profit healthcare organisation and an ASCL partner. Benenden Healthcare is not an insurance company, but a mutual society offering discretionary healthcare services that can benefit schools and colleges and their employees. The society backs up the NHS by stepping in when members are having problems solving their healthcare needs elsewhere.

Benenden Healthcare's affordable healthcare services can be an added benefit in terms of recruitment and retention of employees - and it plays a part in reducing rates of absenteeism and stress through fast diagnosis and treatment of health problems.

For just £1.25* per person per week, the society offers its 950,000-plus members information services, including 24-hour GP advice, long-term care advisory services (providing advice on helping to find suitable long term care arrangements for you or your family) and a range of discounted services; all of these are available as soon as your employees become members.

Local diagnostic services, treatment services, help towards physiotherapy costs and cancer and TB support are available after six months membership. For details visit www.benenden.org.uk *(this will rise to £1.50 a week on 1 July)

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One of the benefits of ASCL membership is discounts and special rates on a range of personal and educational products and services. There are healthcare products, financial advice, online staff well-being systems and self-evaluation surveys. Check out the full list at www.ascl.org.uk