Bupa reveals workplace absence costs Britain's small businesses 10% of turnover

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 10:30:44 GMT

A significant proportion of the UK's small business bosses are risking burnout and ill health as they battle absence to keep businesses afloat, according to Bupa research.

Four in ten (40 per cent) heads of small companies told researchers they continue to work from their sick beds when ill, rather than take time off to recover because there's nobody else to pick up their work.

They are also battling mental as well as physical strain. With financial pressure and a lack of resources hampering succession planning, a third of SME bosses (31 per cent) said that their business would collapse if they were to take time off.

However, while small business owners put their own physical and mental health and wellbeing at risk, it seems their employees may be compounding the problem. Nearly two thirds (62 per cent) of small business bosses say that employee absence is negatively affecting their business, and according to 46 per cent, high levels of employee absence are estimated to contribute up to a 10 per cent drop in turnover in small businesses.

Tony Wood, sales and marketing director at Bupa said: "Small business bosses are real troupers; they are totally committed to running their firms in sickness as well as health. However they need to think about how to take care of their health needs and those of their staff, as working through sickness isn't a long-term solution for anyone."

Four in ten (38 per cent) bosses admit they spend more on office stationery than initiatives that support employee health and wellbeing, such as flu jabs, cycle to work schemes and subsidised gym membership.

Dr Jenny Leeser, Clinical Director of Occupational Health, Bupa, suggests that small business heads should see investment in employee health and wellbeing as a beneficial long-term investment: "There are lots of things bosses can do to support staff and reduce the pressure of sickness absence. Staff benefits such as flu jabs or health checks can make a huge difference and are relatively low cost. Absence can be less of a burden if it is properly managed, for example through part-time return to work plans which can see staff return sooner. To get advice tailored to individual business needs, bosses should consult an occupational health specialist."

The Bupa research showed that the sectors worst affected by workplace absence are property and technology companies, with 77 per cent of small business bosses surveyed in each of these sectors agreeing that sick leave has a financial impact on business. Other sectors which said that unplanned leave caused their business to suffer significantly were hospitality (58 per cent) and retail (50 per cent).

These figures come in the wake of Bupa's 2011 study that found over half (51 per cent) of all HR managers claim that staff sickness absence puts additional work related stress on those employees left to 'hold the fort'. One in three (31 per cent) staff stated they had to take on extra overtime to pick up additional workload as a result of colleagues being off sick. The research was in response to the Government’s Sickness Absence Review in November which found that the way sickness absence is managed by businesses can radically alter the length of time someone is off work.

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Notes to editors:
Research conducted by ICM Research. Total sample size was 250 business owners and members of senior management from UK-based Small Medium Enterprises. Fieldwork was undertaken between 14th – 23rd February 2012.

About Bupa
Bupa's purpose is to help people live longer, healthier, happier lives.

A leading international healthcare group, Bupa offers personal and business health insurance, runs care homes for older people and hospitals and provides workplace health services, employee health assessments and chronic disease management services, including health coaching, and home healthcare.

Bupa launches 24-hour HealthLine with GPs and nurses

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:35:04 GMT

Bupa has launched Bupa Anytime HealthLine, a helpline providing around-the-clock, unlimited telephone consultations with a team of GPs and nurses. This is an enhancement of the current nurse only helpline, which is available to all Bupa individual members as part of their health insurance.

In response to demand from members, Bupa Anytime HealthLine is accessible at any time of day, 365 days of the year offering medical advice and health information. With no time constraints, the customer can have a relaxed and full conversation with a medical professional. The caller will speak directly to a nurse, and if further advice is required, a GP will aim to call the member back within the hour.

Sue Moore, Marketing and Customer Development Director, Bupa Health & Wellbeing said: "Many of our members want to be able to speak to a GP or to a nurse at any time of the day or night, at a time that suits them, without having to wait for an appointment. Many of them want to be free to discuss their health concerns or questions for as long as they need, without the feeling of being rushed. They want expert medical advice on anything from stomach upsets and teething babies to sexual health advice or managing a long term condition. They may also be worried about an upcoming procedure and want some reassurance about what to expect. Bupa Anytime HealthLine is there to give our individual health insurance members this advice and reassurance whenever they need it."

For more information about how to buy Bupa individual health insurance and have access to Bupa Anytime HealthLine call 0800 289 577. Calls may be recorded and may be monitored.

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About Bupa
Bupa's purpose is to help people live longer, healthier, happier lives.

A leading international healthcare group, Bupa offers personal and company health insurance, runs care homes for older people and hospitals and provides workplace health services, health assessments and chronic disease management services, including health coaching, and home healthcare.

With no shareholders, Bupa is able to invest profits to provide more and better healthcare. It is committed to making quality, patient-centred, affordable healthcare more accessible in the areas of wellness, chronic disease management and ageing.

Employing nearly 52,000 people, Bupa has operations around the world, principally in the UK, Australia, Spain, New Zealand and the USA, as well as Hong Kong, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, India, China and across Latin America.

For more information, visit www.bupa.com

Bupa reveals almost a third of UK women have never undergone any type of health screening

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:36:23 GMT

Bupa has revealed that almost a third of women in the UK* (29%) say they have never been for any type of health screening, including cervical screening, which is vital in detecting abnormal, pre-cancerous cells which may lead to cervical cancer.

Around 2,900 women in the UK are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year. However, it is one of the most preventable cancers, with deaths from the disease having fallen over the last 25 years, precisely because of large numbers of women undergoing cervical screenings. Many women are put off going for a screening owing to a lack of information on what it involves and anxiety about dealing with abnormal results. To help, Bupa is offering advice on the subject.

Dr Katrina Herren, Medical Director, Bupa Health and Wellbeing, said: "Cervical screening detects pre-cancerous cells which can develop into cervical cancer. Early detection of pre-cancerous cells is vitally important in preventing cervical cancer so if your test does detect these abnormal cells, don't panic. It means that the cells which could develop into the cancer have been detected and can be monitored closely or treated to prevent them developing into cancer."

A cervical screening is a simple procedure carried out by a doctor or qualified nurse which can detect pre-cancerous cells inside the cervix which can develop into cervical cancer. Early detection of changes to cervical cells is vitally important in minimising the impact of the disease, which is why all women over the age of 25 are encouraged to have cervical screens.

A cervical smear test is just one of the tests included in Bupa's female health assessment. For women who are primarily concerned with their breast and gynaecological health, Bupa Female Health offers a thorough check and the opportunity to discuss any health concerns you have. This 60 minute assessment focuses on the early detection of breast and gynaecological conditions as well as other health risks such as diabetes.

For more information about cervical cancer and screenings please visit: www.bupa.co.uk/individuals/health-information/directory/c/cervical-cancer.

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Notes to Editors:
*Data taken from Bupa Health Pulse 2011. Research carried out by Ipsos MORI between 22nd April and 23rd May 2011 on 1021 women (aged 18+) in the UK.

The Bupa Female Health Assessment is provided by Bupa Insurance Limited. Registered in England and Wales No. 3956433. Bupa Insurance Service Limited. Registered in England and Wales No. 3829851. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registered office: Bupa House, 15-19 Bloomsbury Way, London, WC1A 2BA.

About Bupa
Bupa's purpose is to help people live longer, healthier, happier lives.

Bupa partners with the Ramblers

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:37:20 GMT

Bupa, the leading healthcare group, has teamed up with the Ramblers to help people live healthier lives through walking.

The Ramblers is Britain's Walking charity, working to help everyone realise the pleasures and benefits of walking, and to enhance and protect the places where people walk, whether rural or urban.

Walking can help people to reach the recommended healthy level of physical activity of 150 minutes of moderate exercise over a week in bouts of 10 minutes or more. The many benefits of regular walking include stress reduction, protecting against a number of illnesses and boosting fitness.

Sue Moore, Marketing and Customer Development Director, Bupa Health and Wellbeing said: "We are always looking for ways to help people live healthier lives, and we know that walking is an excellent way to do that. We hope that many of our members get involved with the Ramblers and start enjoying the benefits of walking."

Robert McKinnon, Head of Marketing, the Ramblers said: "At the Ramblers we know that walking is a great way to keep in shape. We hope that Bupa members will join us and discover the friendship, fresh air and fitness that comes with getting outside and walking."

Bupa members will be offered a 50% discount on Ramblers membership for the month of February. Ramblers members are also entitled to a special discount on Bupa health cover and Bupa health assessments.

For more information visit www.bupa.co.uk/ramblers.

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About Bupa:
Bupa’s purpose is to help people live longer, healthier, happier lives.

A leading international healthcare group, Bupa offers personal and company health insurance, runs care homes for older people and hospitals and provides workplace health services, health information, health assessments and chronic disease management services, including health coaching, and home healthcare.

For more information visit www.bupa.com.

About the Ramblers:
Ramblers is Britain's walking charity. It works to make it easy for everyone to walk, whether in countryside, cities, hills, coasts and on or off the beaten track.

It has a grassroots network of over 17,000 volunteers who work tirelessly for a walking Britain. For over 75 years it has helped build and protect Britain’s 130,000 mile long path network, it runs over 38,000 walks a year, and campaigns for better walking routes and more walking opportunities.

Bupa Health Foundation and Alzheimer’s Australia announce UK availability of brain health app

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 10:47:15 GMT

The Bupa Health Foundation and Alzheimer’s Australia have announced the UK launch of a world-first brain health app, the latest digital tool to help in the fight against dementia.

Based on latest research that links brain health and a reduced risk of dementia, to a healthy heart and cardiovascular system, 'BrainyApp' is the first dementia risk reduction iPhone app designed to help people monitor and improve their brain-heart health.

The new app, which was designed by Alzheimer's Australia and Bupa Health Foundation, has already knocked Facebook off the number one spot in the Australia and New Zealand Top Free Apps list and has clocked up more than 130,000 downloads down under.

Now available to people in the UK, 'BrainyApp' helps users monitor and improve the physical, mental, dietary and social aspects of their lifestyle.

There are currently 750,000 people living with dementia in the UK and this is predicted to rise to over a million by 2021. Delaying the onset of dementia by just five years would reduce deaths directly attributable to dementia by 30,000 a year.

Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive, Alzheimer's Society, said: "Most people know how to reduce their risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke but they don't realise that the same healthy lifestyle choices may also lower the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and other kinds of dementia. The idea is that what is good for the heart is also good for the brain."

'BrainyApp' allows users to take a brain-heart health survey about their diet, exercise patterns and lifestyle. It then provides suggestions and ideas about how to make improvements to each. It also includes all-new brain games, and encourages users to build brain-heart points by staying physically and mentally active, socialising with friends and family, and sharing their progress on Facebook.

One of the brain games - 'Word Tennis' - requires players to unscramble anagrams in order to move a paddle and hit a ball back to their opponent.

Director of dementia care for Bupa Care Services, Dr Graham Stokes, said: "There is evidence to show that keeping the mind exercised can stave off the onset of dementia but 'BrainyApp' highlights that good physical health also has a part to play. Best of all it’s good fun."

'BrainyApp' is available as a free download for users of iPhone, iPod and iPad devices from the App Store. There are plans to develop an Android version in early 2012.

More information about BrainyApp is available at www.bupa.co.uk/brainy-app.

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About Bupa Group:
Bupa’s purpose is to help people lead longer, healthier, happier lives.

A leading international healthcare group, Bupa offers personal and company health insurance, runs care homes for older people and hospitals, and provides workplace health services, health assessments and chronic disease management services, including health coaching, and home healthcare.

For more information, visit www.bupa.com

About Alzheimer's Society:
One in three people over 65 will die with dementia. Alzheimer’s Society research shows that 750,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia, more than half have Alzheimer's disease. In just ten years a million people will be living with dementia. This will soar to 1.7 million people by 2051. Alzheimer’s Society champions the rights of people living with dementia and the millions of people who care for them.

About Alzheimer's Australia:
Alzheimer's Australia is the charity for people with dementia and their families and their carers. As the peak body, it provides advocacy, support services, education and information.

About the Bupa Health Foundation:
The Bupa Health Foundation helps build a healthier Australian community through its support of important health research, health education and other healthy living programs.

Bupa International releases health guides to Hong Kong and Singapore

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:42:10 GMT

Bupa International has published two new health guides for expatriates in Hong Kong and Singapore. The guides include information on vaccinations, medical insurance and emergency healthcare.

Expatriate health information is increasingly sought after as a growing number of people relocate to foreign countries for work. Information on healthcare in the East Asian region is particularly needed, as the area's many booming industries have drawn a large number of foreign workers in recent years.

Expatriates already living in Hong Kong or Singapore and those who are planning to move to either country can access the health guides via the Bupa International website.

The Hong Kong health guide discusses vaccinations and the various infectious diseases that expatriates in Hong Kong may be susceptible to. For those wondering whether to take anti-malarial medicines prior to their move, the health guide explains that this is unnecessary, as the mosquito-transmitted disease is not found in Hong Kong.

However, though malaria is not found in Singapore, the Singapore health guide suggests that expatriates take measures to prevent mosquito bites, as dengue fever and chikungunya have both been reported on the island.

The two health guides also provide information on international health insurance options that expatriates in Singapore and Hong Kong can benefit from and give an overview of the healthcare systems in both city-states, such as the availability of specialist care, the number of hospitals and the nature of primary care.

"Moving and living abroad can be daunting, particularly when it comes to the subject of health,” said Dr Sneh Khemka, medical director for Bupa International. "These health guides will help people to prepare for their move to Singapore or Hong Kong and offer them detailed information about hospital and treatment options there.

"Healthcare systems can vary enormously from one place to another so it’s vital to be prepared for any eventuality before you move or travel abroad. These health guides give an overview of the situation in Singapore and Hong Kong but you should always seek advice from an expert if you have a serious medical condition."

Bupa International’s website also includes expatriate guides to other countries. The guides offer advice on culture and cost of living in various countries as well as other information such as how people can ship their belongings when relocating to a foreign country.

About Bupa International:
Bupa International pioneered expatriate health insurance in 1971 and today is one of the leading expatriate health insurers in the world. It provides international health insurance to customers in 190 countries including some of the world’s largest and most well-known companies. It offers customers access to more than 200,000 medical providers worldwide and can settle bills directly with over 7,500 hospitals and clinics.

The company is headquartered in Brighton, England, and has a worldwide emergency medical centre staffed by a team of experienced, multi-lingual advisers and offer customers support and advice 24 hours a day, every day.

Bupa International has achieved a number of accolades over the last 40 years, including winning the Queen's Award for Enterprise for its achievements in international trade three times.

Bupa reveals Brits in denial about realities of too much drink

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:06:39 GMT

Bupa is warning Brits to face up to the realities of excessive drinking as research reveals that despite having one of the highest rates of alcohol consumption in the world, they are the least likely to want to cut down their intake.

The International Bupa Health Pulse survey which studied over 13,000 people in 12 countries, found that Brits are over a third (41%) more likely to drink alcohol than the international average. They are also twice as likely to describe themselves as 'regular drinkers', with almost 1 in 10 (9%) admitting to drinking 'every day' - over double the international average.

But despite the proven link between excess* alcohol consumption and a range of life-threatening health conditions, more than 1 in 3 of Brits who drink (38%) say they don't want to change their behaviour. Internationally, almost 3 in 4 of drinkers have admitted they would like to cut down.

Assistant Medical Director for Bupa, Dr Layla McCay said: "This is a worrying observation which implies that Brits are particularly resistant to change when it comes to drinking habits. Whether that is due to a lack of awareness about alcohol effects or whether we are simply in denial, there is clearly more work to be done to raise awareness of the associated risks and the real impact it can have on lives.

"Excessive drinking carries several health risks, including heart disease, stroke, liver disease, many types of cancer, and even diabetes. Something needs to be done immediately and we need to challenge the social norms – social lives too often revolve around drinking and it is important that we work towards coming up with healthier alternatives. It’s not about total abstinence, but it is about drinking responsibly and being aware of the effects that heavy drinking can have.”

Chief Executive of Drinkaware, Chris Sorek, said: "There is always an excuse to drink but there are plenty of reasons to cut down too. It can be easy to drink more than you intended, by not being aware of the units in your favourite drink or pouring large measures at home. However drinking can affect your sleep patterns, meaning you wake up feeling stressed and tired the next day.

"Regularly drinking over the daily guidelines can lead to more serious health harms including alcohol-related liver disease, which has no warning signs. Alcohol is also the second biggest risk factor for cancer after smoking - responsible for cancer of the breast, liver, bowel and mouth."

For people worried about the amount they drink Bupa hosts a free alcohol calculator available on its website which calculates how much alcohol an individual consumes and provides alcohol information and support on how to drink less.

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Notes to editors:
- *Described by the Chief Medical Officer as more than 2-3 units a day for women or 3-4 units for men
- Visit bupa.com/healthpulse for the report: 'Bupa Health Pulse 2011: International Healthcare Survey - Global Trends, Attitudes and Influences' and further information about the survey.

About Bupa:
Bupa's purpose is to help people live longer, healthier, happier lives.

A leading international healthcare group, Bupa offers personal and company health insurance, runs care homes for older people and hospitals and provides workplace health information and services, health assessments and chronic disease management services, including health coaching, and home healthcare.

Bupa puts real people at the heart of new health insurance campaign

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 15:09:54 GMT

Bupa has unveiled its latest TV advertising campaign to promote its new health insurance product, 'Bupa By You'.

The multi-million pound, integrated, through-the-line campaign launched on 5 September and promotes the adaptable and affordable nature of 'Bupa By You'.

The direct response TV advert, direct marketing and digital advertising have all been created by OgilvyOne.

'Bupa By You' is a natural evolution of the brand's 'Helping You Find Healthy' campaign launched earlier this year which demonstrated that healthy means different things to different people. The product meets this ambition by providing customers with the ability to personalise their insurance cover to best reflect their individual health needs, priorities and budget.

The campaign focuses on real people in real situations revealing them to be doing something that isn’t initially expected. This helps to demonstrate that 'Bupa By You' is adaptable and Bupa doesn't make assumptions about its customers health insurance needs.

"'Bupa By You' is proof that health insurance doesn’t need to be one-size-fits-all," commented Sue Moore, marketing and customer development director at Bupa Health & Wellbeing. "We have put the customer at the heart of the decision making process and the adaptable nature of the product reflects how we have listened to their needs."

Annette King, Chief Executive, OgilvyOne, added: "This campaign demonstrates how Bupa is doing things differently - providing an adaptable product that meets individual customer needs. Our multi-platform approach allows us to communicate with customers on a very personal level."

Media buying was undertaken by Carat.

Further information about Bupa By You can be found on Bupa's website, with the new TV advert available on Bupa's YouTube channel.The product is available for purchase by phone now and online from late September via www.bupa.co.uk/byyou.

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About Bupa:
Bupa’s purpose is to help people lead longer, healthier, happier lives.

With no shareholders, Bupa invests its profits to provide more and better healthcare. The company is committed to making quality, patient-centred, affordable healthcare more accessible in the areas of wellness, chronic disease management and ageing.

For more information, visit www.bupa.com.

Bupa care homes roll out the red carpet for Cannes Film Festival

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:56:29 GMT

Bupa care homes residents across the UK rolled out the red carpet as they added a local twist to the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.

Altogether over 250 care homes, including dementia care homes, transformed rooms into in-house movie theatres and showed classic films, with staff dressing up as famous film stars, such as Charlie Chaplin, and ushers to bring the festival to life. Care home residents were also served popcorn and ice cream during the film intervals. The homes were also joined by entertainers to serenade the residents with their favourite show tunes.

Each home was provided with a selection of iconic movie star photographs in order to set the scene.

Penny Leng, Bupa Care Homes' national activities manager, said: "Our residential and care home staff really went the extra mile to recreate the cinema experience so residents had the chance to feel part of the action.

"It was a fantastic way to appreciate the glitz and glamour of the Cannes Film Festival, as well as offering a great opportunity for our residents to reminisce and talk about their favourite legends of the silver screen.

"Many of our residents remember the bygone era of when going to the cinema was a really thrilling experience, and we’ve thoroughly enjoyed bringing that sense of excitement to life in our homes."

This year marked the 64th Cannes Film Festival, which took place from 11-22 May. Known as the world's oldest and most esteemed showcase for European films, movie stars and producers flock to the festival each year to launch their new films.

ENDS

About Bupa Care Services:
Bupa Care Services runs 305 nursing and residential homes in the UK and cares for almost 18,500 people. Bupa’s homes are open to everyone - with over 70 percent of UK residents receiving state funding. Bupa is the only company to offer Alzheimer's Society-trained Dementia Champions in its UK specialist care homes and over 25% of its beds in the UK are registered for specialist dementia care. Bupa Care Services employs over 27,000 people and owns care homes in Spain, Australia, and New Zealand

Bupa Group
Bupa's purpose is to help people lead longer, healthier, happier lives. A leading international healthcare group, Bupa offers personal and company health insurance, run care homes for older people and hospitals, and provide workplace health services, health assessments and chronic disease management services, including health coaching, and home healthcare.

With no shareholders, Bupa invests its profits to provide more and better healthcare. Bupa is committed to making quality, patient-centred, affordable healthcare more accessible in the areas of wellness, chronic disease management and ageing.

Bupa awards free places in Bupa Junior Great Manchester Run

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:02:59 GMT

Bupa awarded ten free places in the Bupa Junior Great Manchester Run to pupils from Moorgate Primary School in Bolton, Lancashire.

Ten pupils from the school, situated in close proximity to Bupa's Mill View Residential and Nursing Home and Nursing Home were offered the chance to tackle the 2.5km course for free.

Bupa awarded the ten free running places to the school, to encourage the children to exercise, after members of staff from the Bupa residential and nursing home delivered Activ-eat, Bupa's initiative which teaches children the benefits of healthy eating through fun and memorable activities.

The school gratefully snapped up the free places and all funds raised were donated to Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

This year Bupa also offered free running places to the relatives of all its care home residents. In addition, four staff members from Bupa Care Services took part as runners and one as a volunteer.

Sue Kilby, activity coordinator at Bupa's Mill View Residential and Nursing Home, said: "We have been delivering Activ-eat to the children from Moorgate Primary School for some time and they are always excited about getting involved and learning more about healthy eating. I am so pleased that the children decided to take part in the Bupa Junior Great Manchester Run, and they all did brilliantly on the day."

Siobhan Drane, Bupa's community affairs consultant, commented: "As a healthcare company, Bupa is keen to help tackle the issue of child obesity and promote nutrition and exercise. I am delighted that the children at Moorgate wanted to get involved in the run, and it is a great addition to the lessons learnt on our Activ-eat programme."

For more information, visit www.bupa.co.uk/care-homes.

Bupa announces unhealthy Brits cost country around £17.7 billion a year

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:54:54 GMT

Bupa has revealed that unhealthy Brits are costing the NHS, employers and themselves £17.7 billion every year through their lifestyle choices, according to new research from the leading international healthcare group. This figure could rise to almost £33bn a year by 2025 if current health trends continue.

The study calculated immediate and long-term potential savings to individuals and public purses if obesity rates stop rising; the 26 per cent of smokers who attempt to quit each year are successful; and excessive drinkers bring their intake down to recommended levels.

According to the findings, making healthier lifestyle choices such as quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake and becoming more active can have an immediate impact on people's wallets. Signing up for health cash plans could also help save money if any medical problems did arise, which could be found by undergoing health assessments such as a liver check or a coronary health check.

By 2025, if healthier lifestyles are adopted the total savings made by individuals alone across the UK could amount to £22 billion a year, two thirds of the potential annual savings of £33 billion. The £22 billion comes from savings of £5 billion and £3.9 billion through reduced expenditure on alcohol and cigarettes respectively and £7.4 billion saved in additional earning potential due to increased life expectancy from quitting smoking. Individuals could also save £1.7 billion through increased employment and £3.9 billion through increased earning potential due to a fall in obesity levels.

The findings of the report also outline the long-term financial implications of healthier lifestyles to employers and the NHS, which make up the remainder of the £33 billion figure.

Dr Johann Carinus, assistant medical director, Bupa Health and Wellbeing, said: "This study not only reveals the true cost to the nation of unhealthy lifestyle choices but it also highlights the considerable savings to the public purse which could be achieved through individual commitments to health improvement.

"Data released earlier this year from the Bupa 'Health Age' report showed that almost 70 per cent of people in the UK wanted to make a positive change to improve their health in 2011. While ultimately it's up to individuals to make healthy lifestyle choices, there is a huge opportunity for healthcare providers and employers to play their part in empowering individuals to live more healthily. The benefits for everyone are clear."

To coincide with the new findings, Bupa is launching the "Bupa Health Pledge" campaign, calling on the public to make a Pledge to achieve their health goals - whether it's to quit smoking, cut down on alcohol, eat more healthily or do more exercise. Bupa has launched a simple tool that allows members of the public to track their progress on a specific Health Pledge and access information, free expert advice and support needed to make the desired change, all on its Facebook page.

As Bupa's own Health Pledge, the healthcare company is also committing to donate £1 to the British Heart Foundation for everyone who signs up to a Pledge.

About Bupa:
Bupa's purpose is to help people lead longer, healthier, happier lives.

A leading international healthcare group, it offers personal and company health insurance, runs care homes for older people and hospitals, and provides workplace health services, health assessments and chronic disease management services, including health coaching, and home healthcare.

With no shareholders, Bupa invests its profits to provide more and better healthcare. It is committed to making quality, patient-centred, affordable healthcare more accessible in the areas of wellness, chronic disease management and ageing.

Bupa care homes 'grow their own' for community initiative

Tue, 24 May 2011 10:53:30 GMT

Bupa care homes' residents have their watering cans at the ready as they prepare to 'grow their own' for 'Community Crops'.

'Community Crops' is a Bupa care homes initiative which promotes the health benefits associated with gardening and growing your own fruit and veg.

The project is being supported by young people involved with The Prince's Trust, who are linking up with Bupa homes, including nursing care homes, across the UK to help sow and grow the crops.

Residents have also been inviting local schools and community groups to lend a hand with planting and start their own vegetable plots.

Caroline Davy, Bupa's community affairs assistant, said: "This is a great way for our residents to appreciate the fresh air, stay active and get a real sense of achievement by tending to the crops and watching them grow.

"For our residents who were keen gardeners before they joined us, 'Community Crops' offers a great opportunity to get back involved, but it also helps minds as well as bodies. Particularly for our residents receiving dementia care, sharing stories about 'dig for victory' and the tradition of growing your own are excellent memory triggers to aid connections with the past."

Helen Thurston, from The Prince's Trust added: "'The Community Crops' campaign is a fantastic project which provides our Prince's Trust XL club members with the opportunity to get involved with their local community. It enables young people to engage in a positive way with a different generation and learn about the importance of healthy eating."

Altogether, the Community Crops campaign has taken root in gardens and greenhouses in over 300 care homes across the UK.

About Bupa Care Services:
Bupa Care Services runs 305 nursing and residential homes in the UK and cares for almost 18,500 people. Its homes are open to everyone - with over 70 percent of UK residents receiving state funding. It is the only company to offer Alzheimer's Society-trained Dementia Champions in its UK specialist care homes and over 25% of its beds in the UK are registered for specialist dementia care. Bupa Care Services employs over 27,000 people and owns care homes in Spain, Australia, and New Zealand.

About Bupa Group:
Bupa's purpose is to help people lead longer, healthier, happier lives. A leading international healthcare group, it offers personal and company health insurance, run care homes for older people and hospitals, and provide workplace health services, health assessments and chronic disease management services, including health coaching, and home healthcare.

With no shareholders, Bupa invests its profits to provide more and better healthcare. It is committed to making quality, patient-centred, affordable healthcare more accessible in the areas of wellness, chronic disease management and ageing.

Bupa care home residents set to 'get into reading' with special reading aloud groups

Mon, 23 May 2011 16:01:22 GMT

Bupa has joined forces with charity The Reader Organisation to encourage its care home residents to ‘get into reading’ with special reading aloud groups.

The 'Get into Reading' groups will be piloted in eight Bupa care homes for six months from April 2011. Get into Reading aims to bring the benefits of reading aloud and of social interaction to people in health and care environments, such as residential homes or homes offering nursing care.

Each group will enjoy shared reading led by a project worker from The Reader Organisation for an hour each week. Members will discuss what's being read as they go along, and relatives, staff and members of the local community will be welcome to join in as well. Studies show that literature can have a healing or therapeutic effect on readers, helping them to identify with characters and situations in books or to be 'taken out of themselves' by the story.

The Reader Organisation's experience has shown that short stories and poetry have proved most beneficial for people with dementia. The project will ensure that Bupa care home staff members will be trained to deliver read-aloud groups themselves. Following assessment of the pilot, Bupa plans to offer groups to its 305 homes nationally as part of its industry-leading Activities programme.

Siobhan Drane, Bupa Care Services community manager said: "We are really pleased to be working with The Reader Organisation to deliver 'Get into Reading'. We hope that these reading aloud groups will reignite a passion for literature in our residents, spark a new interest or offer an opportunity for reminiscence. We believe our residents will benefit from the positive effect literature can have on wellbeing."

Jane Davis, TRO founder and director, added: "This pilot with Bupa is a great opportunity to spread the benefits of Get Into Reading and bring shared reading into the heart of care home culture. We've been running groups in care homes since 2006 and our evaluations have told us that the groups improve mood, decrease agitation and increase levels of concentration and social interaction."

About Bupa Care Services:
Bupa Care Services runs 305 nursing and residential homes in the UK and cares for almost 18,500 people. Bupa's homes are open to everyone - with over 70 percent of UK residents receiving state funding. Bupa is the only company to offer Alzheimer's Society-trained Dementia Champions in its UK specialist care homes and over 25% of its beds in the UK are registered for specialist dementia care. Bupa Care Services employs over 27,000 people and owns care homes in Spain, Australia, and New Zealand

Bupa care homes hold Communi-tea Week celebrations

Mon, 23 May 2011 10:39:40 GMT

Bupa has held Communi-tea Week events in its care homes to help tackle loneliness in older people.

Residents of Bupa care homes throughout the UK have brewed up some community spirit by inviting older people to join them for a friendly cup of tea.

Altogether, over 300 care homes, including residential care and nursing care homes, hosted special afternoon tea parties to mark Communi-tea Week, a nationwide campaign which aimed to use tea-related social activities to help tackle the problems of isolation and loneliness in older people.

Worrying statistics demonstrate the size of the isolation problem in the UK, with over 1 million (11%) of people aged 65 or over saying they are always or often feel lonely. Nearly half of all older people believe that the television is their main form of company and 17% of older people have less than weekly contact with family, friends and neighbours*.

Siobhan Drane, Bupa's community affairs manager, deemed the week a great success: "Communi-tea Week is a great way of highlighting the support networks that are available in local communities, as well as raising awareness of the serious issues facing older people today. Everyone put on the kettle and contacted someone they thought may need their spirits lifting - a cup of tea is the perfect way to reach out and make a difference."

As well as organising tea-related social events, from tea-tasting sessions to tea dances, Bupa care homes urged others to help by inviting older people living on their own to join them for a cuppa, whether it be a neighbour or friend.

Attracting generous sponsorship from Tetley and McVities, this was the fifth year that Communi-tea Week has stirred people into action, with Bupa also providing the care homes with tea-tasting tips, advice on how to make the perfect cup of tea and guides on knitting a Communi-tea Week tea cosy.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

* http://policy.helptheaged.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/29341400-5DF0-49B7-BD90-00CE05A0F46F/0/uk_facts.pdf

About Bupa Care Services:
Bupa Care Services runs 305 nursing and residential homes in the UK and cares for almost 18,500 people. Our homes are open to everyone – with over 70 percent of UK residents receiving state funding. We are the only company to offer Alzheimer's Society-trained Dementia Champions in our UK specialist care homes and over 25% of our beds in the UK are registered for specialist dementia care. Bupa Care Services employs over 27,000 people and owns care homes in Spain, Australia, and New Zealand.

About Bupa Group:
Bupa's purpose is to help people lead longer, healthier, happier lives. A leading international healthcare group, we offer personal and company health insurance, run care homes for older people and hospitals, and provide workplace health services, health assessments and chronic disease management services, including health coaching, and home healthcare.

With no shareholders, we invest our profits to provide more and better healthcare. We are committed to making quality, patient-centred, affordable healthcare more accessible in the areas of wellness, chronic disease management and ageing.

Employing nearly 52,000 people, Bupa has operations around the world, principally in the UK, Australia, Spain, New Zealand and the USA, as well as Hong Kong, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, India, China and across Latin America.

Bupa announces results of Customer Satisfaction Survey

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:09:59 GMT

Bupa has announced the results of this year's Bupa Care Services Customer Satisfaction Survey.

74% of Bupa care home residents rate the overall standard of care at their Bupa care homes ‘excellent’ and/or ‘very good’. The results came from the annual independent survey of residents and relatives which has been running for 12 years.

This is the eighth consecutive year the overall customer satisfaction score has risen.

In addition to this 94% of residents rated Bupa's quality of nursing care and other care as excellent or very good, 91% of residents rated Bupa's staff as excellent or very good for being treated as individuals and 91% of residents rated Bupa's staff as understanding the residents needs as excellent or very good.

Oliver Thomas, director of Bupa's UK Care Homes, said: "Residents and their families are in the best position to judge our care and I am delighted to see such a positive response from them.

"Our overall customer satisfaction score has risen for eight consecutive years since the introduction of our Personal Best development programme, which encourages staff to recognise the individuals we care for and to go that extra mile.

"This is a tribute to all our committed care home staff and the excellent care that they provide. Their efforts are clearly being acknowledged by residents."

The Bupa Care Services Customer Satisfaction Survey is commissioned annually and carried out independently by Deighton Consultants.

All residents at Bupa care homes are offered the opportunity to fill in a questionnaire each year, which allows them to feedback and comment on their overall care, staff, the buildings and grounds, their room, being treated as an individual, communal rooms, the food and their activities. Relatives of residents with dementia are also offered the opportunity to feedback on these aspects including dementia care.

Across the UK, Bupa's overall customer satisfaction score has risen since the introduction of its Personal Best programme, an initiative which delivers highly individualised care in all of its 305 homes.

In 2010 74% of residents rated overall service as excellent or very good, 66% of relatives rated overall service as excellent or very good and 94% rated the overall view of staff as excellent or very good.

More than 70 percent of Bupa residents get financial help towards the cost of their care – the level of help they get with care home fees depends on individual circumstances.

About Bupa:
Bupa’s purpose is to help people lead longer, healthier, happier lives. A leading international healthcare group, we offer personal and company health insurance, run care homes for older people and hospitals, and provide workplace health services, health assessments and chronic disease management services, including health coaching, and home healthcare.

With no shareholders, we invest our profits to provide more and better healthcare. We are committed to making quality, patient-centred, affordable healthcare more accessible in the areas of wellness, chronic disease management and ageing.

Employing nearly 52,000 people, Bupa has operations around the world, principally in the UK, Australia, Spain, New Zealand and the USA, as well as Hong Kong, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, India, China and across Latin America.

About Bupa Care Services:
Bupa operates 305 nursing and residential homes in the UK and cares for almost 18,500 people.

Bupa is the only company to offer Alzheimer’s Society-trained Dementia Champions in our UK specialist care homes - over 25% of our beds in the UK are registered for specialist dementia care.

Our care homes are open to everyone – over 70 percent of Bupa’s UK residents receive state funding.

Bupa Care Services employs over 20,000 people.

Bupa also owns care homes in Spain, Australia, and New Zealand.

Bupa boosts cancer cover

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 09:45:14 GMT

In an industry first, Bupa, the leading international healthcare group, has announced plans to improve the quality of its cancer cover by no longer selling corporate health insurance schemes which feature overall cost or time limits for cancer treatment.

Cancer treatment costs increased sharply in 2005 and 2006 due to the introduction of new drugs. In response to the concerns this caused about rising costs, the health insurance market developed financial benefit caps and time limits to restrict financial exposure for client businesses.

However, experience has shown that these limits mean that patients who claim on their policies can be left vulnerable at critical points in their treatment.

Once employees reach their benefit ceiling they face the possibility of having to change their treatment mid-stream. The varying cost of cancer drugs also makes it very difficult for patients to make informed choices about their treatment path, and its likely cost, at the point of diagnosis.

Dr Natalie-Jane Macdonald, managing director, Bupa Health and Wellbeing explained: "We work closely with our clients to help them to provide their employees with the best quality healthcare at a sustainable affordable cost, and this remains a priority for us. We have developed better, fairer ways of controlling healthcare costs without compromising the experience and outcomes of patients at a difficult time in their lives."

In 2010 Bupa spent £18m on drugs that are not widely available elsewhere and it routinely funds cancer treatments that are approved by the European Medicines Agency. Bupa also makes prompt decisions to pay for experimental drugs when clinically appropriate.

Notes to editors
Bupa launched Corporate Select in December 2009 with an option to apply an overall annual maximum benefit. Based on this experience, Bupa has recognised that these limits offer a poor customer experience.

Faced with the reality of what they mean in practice, businesses that signed up to them often choose not to apply them. Bupa currently has a very small number of clients who operate these limits on their corporate policies and it will work with them to find options to manage their healthcare costs.

About Bupa Group:
A leading international healthcare group, Bupa offers personal and corporate health insurance, run care homes for older people and hospitals, and provide workplace health services, health assessments and chronic disease management services, including health coaching, and home healthcare.

With no shareholders, Bupa invests its profits to provide more and better healthcare. The group is committed to making quality, patient-centred, affordable healthcare more accessible in the areas of health and wellbeing, chronic disease management and ageing.

Bupa reveals the average Brit is cutting life expectancy by 12 years

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 12:34:07 GMT

Bupa has revealed that the average Brit is at risk of cutting more than a decade off their life through unhealthy lifestyle habits. This is according to new research from the leading international healthcare group.

The Bupa study assessed lifestyle behaviours such as smoking, alcohol intake, diet and exercise as well as other factors, in nearly 5,000 adults across Britain to calculate the nation's average Health Age, which is the impact that lifestyles are having on Briton's life expectancy.

The results showed that on average, Brits have a Health Age 12 years older than if they adopted healthy habits. Worryingly, more than one in eight people are at risk of cutting their life short by 20 years or more.

Being married or in a long-term relationship has a positive impact on Health Age across all age groups, increasing potential life expectancy by more than four years.

Women in their 50s had some of the unhealthiest behaviours, being more inactive and overweight than women in other age groups. Men in their 50s and 60s were also more inactive and overweight than other men.

Dr Annabel Bentley, medical director, Bupa Health and Wellbeing said: "We all know that bad habits such as smoking and drinking too much alcohol damage our health but these findings show the real impact of our habits and the number of years we're knocking off our lives unnecessarily.

"But it's never too late to make a change for the better. Whether you're in your twenties or in your seventies, you could add years to your life by making lifestyle changes."

A link between happiness and healthiness also showed that nine out of ten of the healthiest people (91% - those within 6 years of their ideal health age) thought they were as happy as or happier than other people, while less than 7 in 10 of the least healthy people (66% - 25 or more years away from their ideal health age) thought so.

Even making one change to lifestyle can have a significant impact on life expectancy. For example, a 25 year old female who drinks 20 units a week (ten standard glasses of wine), could add up to three years to her life by drinking three fewer glasses of wine a week.

Users can discover their health age by completing the health age calculator at www.bupa.co.uk/findhealthy.

The calculator asks for basic information such as height, weight and age and for details on smoking, drinking, diet and exercise habits. The calculator then quantifies how far users are rolling back the clock or fast-forwarding their life if they continue in the same way.

To help empower people to make changes, the calculator also provides a figure of how many years someone can add to their life and provides recommendations, in likely order of priority, as to how to start lowering their health age.

The activity coincides with the launch of Bupa's 'Helping You Find Healthy' campaign which is a drive to engage the public to be as healthy as they can be.

About Bupa:
Bupa's purpose is to help people lead longer, healthier, happier lives.

A leading international healthcare group, we offer personal and company health insurance, run care homes for older people and hospitals, and provide workplace health services, health assessments and chronic disease management services, including health coaching, and home healthcare.

With no shareholders, we invest our profits to provide more and better healthcare. We are committed to making quality, patient-centred, affordable healthcare more accessible in the areas of wellness, chronic disease management and ageing.

ENDS

Bupa International launches free online health assessment

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 12:33:56 GMT

Bupa International has announced the launch of its free online health assessment.

The assessments are part of the Bupa International's new health section on its website, which has more than 50 factsheets and a series of health theme pages which include articles and videos explaining medical issues.

The online health assessment is designed to help users find the answers to any health-related questions they may have.

The health assessment will ask the user a series of questions to help understand their medical and lifestyle risk factors. At the end users will receive a report with medical information based on their answers and guidance on how they can improve their health if necessary. The assessment takes less than 10 minutes to fill out.

The health assessments on the site include maternity, diet, stress, fitness, heart disease risk and breast cancer risk.

First time users are asked to register so that Bupa can get some very basic personal information, which is important for the quality of the assessments. This also means that returning users won't have to enter the same information again the next time they visit. First time users will have to register an email address and a chosen password, which is a different login from the one currently used by Bupa International Members for Membersworld.

On the main 'Health Information' page users can find links to Bupa's A-Z list of factsheets and the health theme pages. All the content has been written by Bupa's medical team and reviewed by doctors or clinical professionals.

About Bupa:
Bupa's purpose is to help people lead longer, healthier, happier lives.

A leading international healthcare group, Bupa offers personal health insurance, international health insurance, expatriate health insurance, corporate health insurance and international travel insurance affordable care homes and hospitals, and provide workplace health services, health assessments and chronic disease management services, including health coaching, critical illness insurance, and home healthcare.

Bupa International was established in 1971 to extend its health cover to expatriates around the globe. Since then, Bupa has expanded its network to 190 countries and grown its membership to over 800,000 people.

Bupa International won the Queen's Award for Enterprise in the International Trade Category in 2010 for its continued substantial growth in overseas earnings and commercial success. This is the third time the company has won a Queen's Award for outstanding achievement having been a previous winner in 2005 and 1999.

Bupa International launches first part of new health section online

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 11:30:12 GMT

Bupa has announced the launch of the first part of its new health section online at bupa-intl.com, featuring more interactive content and 50 medical factsheets for an international audience. The new factsheets have been organised into theme pages that address some of Bupa users' key concerns regarding issues such as travel and healthy living choices.

The factsheets and health themes have been prioritised by Bupa International's managing director, Dr Sneh in collaboration with the eComms team. Bupa will also be looking into how it can further optimise the online health section in the future, taking into account both statistics and customer feedback. The health section will function as a resource for existing members who can seek advice and information.

April 2011 will see the launch of the second part of the project which is a series of interactive health risk assessments that will help inform users and guide them towards making the right lifestyle choices. Once the health risk assessments have been implemented Bupa will communicate the launch to the wider external market.

About Bupa:
Bupa's purpose is to help people lead longer, healthier, happier lives.

A leading international healthcare group, Bupa offers personal health insurance, international health insurance and corporate health insurance, affordable care homes and hospitals, and provide workplace health services, health assessments and chronic disease management services, including health coaching, critical illness insurance, and home healthcare.

Bupa's 'How are you Britain?' report reveals rise of athletic older people

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 12:19:26 GMT

Bupa has revealed that the over-60s are fitter than ever, leaving their younger counterparts behind when it comes to exercise.

Research from the Bupa 'How are you Britain?' report reveals that UK residents who are 60 plus are three times more likely to exercise every day than those in their 20s*.

In fact, nearly a quarter (22 per cent) of over 60s work out at least five times a week, with just 15 per cent of 20-somethings making a similar effort.

It's age-defying celebrities who are spurring on the athletic older people (AOPs). Bupa's research placed the yoga-toned Helen Mirren (aged 65) at the top of the list of such inspirational celebrities (19 per cent), closely followed by Joanna Lumley (15 per cent).

As a result of exercise, the over 60s are enjoying a greater quality of life, with a third (33 per cent) losing weight and over a quarter (26 per cent) feeling less stressed. A few even attribute their better luck with the opposite sex** to exercise.

All this physical activity is helping the 60 plus generation to feel younger than their years (70 per cent***) as well as doing wonders for their health.

Simon Fairthorne, musculoskeletal physiotherapist from Bupa's Barbican Centre for Sports Medicine, London, said: "The benefits this generation is experiencing from exercise are substantial - they are less likely to suffer from chronic illness than their parents and have a longer life expectancy. It also helps reduce the risk of serious health conditions such as heart disease, high cholesterol, as well as improving mental health and overall wellbeing.

"The emergence of the AOPs is very encouraging as more than a third (37 per cent) of over 60s feel they are exercising more now than they did 10 years ago."

For most, walking is the most popular form of exercise (79 per cent), followed by swimming (19 per cent) and cycling (13 per cent). However there are also those who are embracing the new keep fit methods provided by technology with three per cent doing exercise programmes on gaming consoles such as the Wii Fit and X-Box Kinect.

Not content with general exercise, some AOPs are going one step further and competing in endurance sports events.

In fact, the Bupa Great North Run has experienced a 14 per cent boost in entries over the past five years in the older age group****.

About Bupa:
Bupa's purpose is to help people lead longer, healthier, happier lives.

A leading international healthcare group, it offers health insurance products, travel insurance, travel insurance for business and advice on things such as the flu jab, runs care homes for older people and hospitals, and provides workplace health services, health assessments and chronic disease management services, including health coaching, and home healthcare.

Notes to Editors:
*14 per cent of over 60s exercise everyday versus five per cent of 20-somthings.
**One per cent of the over 60's have found a new partner.
***Bupa Health Pulse 2010 Research: Ipsos MORI interviewed 1,000 UK adults between 10 June and 14 July 2010.
**** Bupa Great North Run Series data.

About Bupa
Bupa's purpose is to help people lead longer, healthier, happier lives.

A leading international healthcare group, we offer personal health insurance and corporate health insurance, affordable care homes and hospitals, and provide workplace health services, health assessments and chronic disease management services, including health coaching, critical illness insurance, and home healthcare.

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