Amid mounting pressures on the UK's public healthcare institution, the supermarket chain Tesco has proposed to offer its employees virtual appointments with a private family doctor, according to a Reuters report. Britain's largest private-sector employer Tesco on Thursday told the news agency that the benefits package for its 3,10,000 UK worforce would provide them and their families with access to unlimited appointments with a general practitioner (GP), seven days a week.
The report comes as UK's public healthcare provider National Health Service (NHS) on Wednesday celebrated its 75th anniversary. The institution was launched after World War II to provide health care free at the point of use. However, as per the report, ongoing pressures from the COVID-19 pandemic and the country's aging population have left it struggling with growing demand.
Many people are unable to get appointments with their local GP when they need them and face long waiting lists for hospital treatment, the report further said.
It also cited research done by Health Hero, in collaboration with YuLife, revealing that 84 per cent of general practitioner patients required an appointment last year, but only 53 per cent of those seeking same-day appointments were able to secure one. Additionally, NHS data has also indicates that nearly five million patients in England wait over two weeks for a GP appointment each month, as per the report.
It also noted the country's growing labour shortage and companies raising benefits to attract workers. The UK-based companies are offering to raise hourly wages, offer one-off bonuses, provide free food, and other benefits to attract and retain staff, amid a tight labour market, as per the news agency.
Even Tesco has increased staff wages by over 15 per cent in the past year and hopes its latest initiative aimed at retaining employees may inspire other major employers to adopt similar measures, the report said.
Tesco, as per the report has patterned with YuLife, that would provide GPs who can issue private prescriptions, which can be collected from pharmacies on the same day or delivered to the worker's home. Tesco front-line staff, managers, and their immediate families residing in the same household across the UK, including Tesco Bank and Booker, will have access to this comprehensive suite of benefits, the report said. Online video appointments or phone calls will be available to workers as part of this initiative.
Other services available to staff include access to sleep therapists, nutritionists, counsellors, exercise coaches, and physiotherapists.
"This is a direct investment in the health of our colleagues," Tesco's UK people director, James Goodman, told the news agency.
In addition to its new healthcare initiative, Tesco, like other major employers and retailers, has offered traditional benefits to its staff, including share schemes and staff discounts. Furthermore, the company began providing advances in pay to its employees last year, further enhancing its employee benefits package.