From today, 1 July 2021, protection challenger Guardian is giving all its registered advisers and their immediate families, free access to its GP 24/7 service until 31 December 2021. Advisers don’t need to have written any business to qualify and the offer will also be available to advisers who register with Guardian between now and the end of the year.
Guardian’s GP 24/7 service, currently available to every policyholder, gives access to a GP consultation with a UK-based doctor, at any time during the day or night, on any day of the week, from any location. People who use the service can choose a phone or video consultation, using their phone, tablet or PC. There is no cap on the number of calls and no time limit on consultations. The service is provided by Guardian’s partner, HealthHero, and can be used to provide medication support, as well as private prescriptions and referrals.
Jacqui Gillies, Marketing and Proposition Director, Guardian, said: “Health and wellbeing are front of mind as we emerge from the pandemic. We hope that by offering registered advisers, and their immediate families, free access to our GP 24/7 service until the end of December, we can provide an extra level of comfort to our valued partners at this time. For advisers not yet registered with Guardian, who’d like to take advantage of this offer, our online registration process is easy and quick. Advisers can register and be submitting business within 10 minutes.”
Dave Jennings, Commercial Director, HealthHero, said: “We’re delighted to help Guardian give its valued partners access to our remote GP consultation service. At HealthHero, we’re committed to simplifying healthcare and improving lives, using the latest technology to improve the patient experience. We put medical advice from clinical experts into the hands of millions of people – no matter where or when they need it. We work with businesses to offer our services to their policyholders, employees and business partners – enabling them to better support the health and wellbeing of their most important assets: their people, and their customers.”
Robert Harvey, Protection Product Specialist, Protection Guru, said: “I’m very happy to hear of this initiative by Guardian and I’m sure it will be well received by advisers. These types of support services are an important part of an insurance contract but can sometimes be overlooked in the protection conversation. By getting to sample the GP 24/7 service, advisers can experience what’s on offer for themselves, which means they can then better promote and explain to customers. Not to mention the huge need for this type of service post pandemic.”
This offer comes at a time when analysis of NHS England data shows rising pressure on NHS GP practices in the aftermath of the pandemic. Recent analysis by the Health Foundation found that there were 279 million appointments made with GP practices in England from April 2020 to March 2021, compared with 310 million the year before. This was a drop of 10%, meaning many people may have missed the diagnosis and treatment needed during the pandemic. As society starts to open up once again, this is now translating into increased pressure on primary care, and in particular, GPs. The same analysis stated that more than 28 million GP appointments were booked in March 2021. This was the highest level ever recorded, exceeding pre-pandemic levels, in March 2019, by 2 million.1
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Notes to editors:
Press enquiries to Natalie Robinson, 07789 501146, Natalie.robinson@guardianfs.co.uk
Source
1. Health Foundation analysis of NHS data, May 27 2021
Guardian Financial Services is an appointed representative of Scottish Friendly
All products are provided by Scottish Friendly Assurance Society Limited (SFA) and we have an agreement with them to underwrite and issue the protection policies we distribute through the UK intermediary channel. As an appointed representative of Scottish Friendly Assurance Society Limited, Guardian Financial Services Limited is the market-facing brand under which we promote our proposition and engage with advisers.
Background to Guardian Financial Services, owned by Gryphon Group Holdings
Guardian, the new life and protection insurance business, launched in 2018 and pledged to grow the protection market. The brand promise of ‘Life. Made Better.’ reflects the company’s commitment to rethink and reinvent protection for the better; making sure customers get cover that’s easier to understand, simple to buy and designed to never let them down.
Guardian’s business partners
Gryphon Group Holdings is majority owned by Punter Southall Group as the largest equity capital investor. Its back-end technology partner is Liss Systems, the UK arm of Nasdaq-listed EXL. Its front-end technology, branding and marketing partner is Space, UK based financial services specialists. Risk partners are Hannover Re and Gen Re.
About HealthHero
HealthHero is a pan-European digital healthcare provider, currently operating in the UK, France, Germany and the Republic of Ireland. On a mission to simplify healthcare and improve lives, HealthHero brings together human expertise and digital convenience – providing patients, insurance policyholders and employees with direct, remote access to experienced doctors and expert clinicians. With a full spectrum of primary care services delivered through a suite of innovative digital tools, HealthHero is the preferred partner for over 1000 businesses, and currently covers 23 million individual lives. HealthHero was founded by Ranjan Singh, an entrepreneur with over 20 years’ experience innovating and investing in sectors on the cusp of transformation.