Usage data for virtual GP consultations and mental health support – provided as part of Legal & General Group Protection’s ‘Be Well. Get Better. Be Supported.’ wellbeing framework – revealed that more than one in 10 (12%) cases were for dependants under 18 years of age.
Almost 18% of registrations to the service were for dependants under 18 years of age.
These findings formed part of total usage data since the launch of Legal & General’s virtual GP, provided by Teladoc Health UK from July 2022 to October 2023.
The UK is experiencing widening health inequalities, according to Legal & General’s latest Rebuilding Britain Index.
Reports suggest that one in six children aged five to 16 years old are likely to have a mental health problem.
Legal & General said that the availability of child mental health referrals was as valuable as GP consultations, highlighting reports that NHS waiting lists for all-age mental health support can be anywhere between two to 22 weeks.
James Walker, head of product and proposition at Legal & General Group Protection, said: “By having Group income protection in place, employers are not only helping extend essential primary care support to their employees, whether we’re covering them or not, but also to their dependants.
“This brings value to employees, relieving the worry that comes when their child is unwell. And it brings value to businesses, in terms of contributing to DEI goals, plus Environmental Social Governance (ESG) strategy in the process.
“In providing on demand access to such services, we’re doing our part to help create good work that’s beneficial for health; enabling more working age people to thrive in the workplace by levelling up access.”
Rebecca White, director of operations at Teladoc Health UK, added: “At a time when NHS resources are more over-stretched than ever, feedback from the users of our service suggests that it’s truly a relief to be able to gain access when needed to the right diagnoses, medications and mental health support.
“Never more so than where a child is concerned. A child’s mental health is as much a worry for parents as for their own health and enabling swift access to experts in the face of significant waits for NHS services is invaluable.
“The service is proven to help reduce pressure on the NHS. Our latest patient satisfaction data for our relationship with Legal & General, reveals that if they hadn’t used the GP service, 68% would have seen their GP at the next available appointment and 11% would have gone to emergency/urgent care. It also reduces pressure on employers and employees.”
