"Giving employees access to fast diagnosis is essential in ensuring treatment begins as quickly as possible, leading to quick recovery, less absenteeism, and more lives saved."
- Prof. Gordon Wishart, Founder & Chief Medical Officer at Check4Cancer
For the first time, employees of Healix’s member companies will have access to 3 diagnostic pathways for breast, skin, and prostate cancer assessments via the Healix claims portal – without the need for a GP referral. Diagnostic appointments with a consultant can be accessed within days from Check4Cancer’s UK-wide network of clinics.
This partnership was prompted by research from The British Medical Association (BMA) which found that the percentage of patients told they have cancer within four weeks of an urgent referral remains low, at 73.5% in April 2024. Notably, the number of patients receiving their first cancer treatment within two months (62 days) after an urgent referral was 66.6% - well below the operational standard of 85%.
Check4Cancer has seen a 50% increase in demand over the last two years from people entering diagnostic pathways via their employers.
“Our partnership with Check4Cancer comes at an important time for employees across the UK, as access to cancer pathways via the NHS is becoming increasingly challenging. Employers have an important role to play in supporting people who have symptoms of cancer or are going through treatment. We know that receiving early diagnosis is essential in ensuring people have the best chance of a successful recovery,” explained Ian Talbot, CEO of Healix Health.
He said: “With Cancer Research UK suggesting that cancer cases will rise from 384k in 2023 to over 500k by 2040, it’s important that employers are stepping in to plug the gaps in the health service, providing fast access to diagnosis when symptoms first appear.”
Prof. Gordon Wishart, Founder & Chief Medical Officer at Check4Cancer, agreed “It’s never been a more important time for employers to step in to support their workforce as NHS services struggle to cope due to an increasing and ageing population.
“Giving employees access to fast diagnosis is essential in ensuring treatment begins as quickly as possible, leading to quick recovery, less absenteeism, and more lives saved,” he concluded.
