Legal & General Group Protection today announces a partnership with Perci Health, who describe themselves as the UK’s first virtual cancer survivorship clinic.
This brings personalised, evidence-based care to employees living with and beyond cancer, who are covered by Legal & General’s group income protection (GIP) and are unable to work long-term. Perci Health aims to achieve best possible outcomes; supporting people to understand and manage the long-term effects of cancer treatment, and optimise their quality of life.
A unique solution in the healthcare market, Perci Health provides specialist clinical and vocational rehabilitation through virtual clinics with a large team of multidisciplinary cancer experts, focused on the physical, psychological and practical effects of cancer. Perci Health delivers tailored care packages for employees with a cancer diagnosis. It aims to maximise the likelihood of returning to work, wherever appropriate, following a period of prolonged absence and treatment for cancer.
Perci Health is available at no extra cost to those individuals covered by their employer’s Legal & General GIP policy. The service forms part of Legal & General’s person-centred framework Be Well. Get Better. Be Supported. which brings all of its GIP services together in one place – from prevention to early intervention and rehabilitation – ensuring a focus on joined-up thinking and outcomes.
Perci Health’s mission is to proactively challenge the status quo for those living with cancer and change perceptions about life after treatment. Legal & General says this aligns with its own biopsychosocial (person centred) philosophy, underpinned by the belief that ‘good work’ is beneficial and should be considered a goal in the recovery of those with health problems, wherever appropriate.
Perci Health’s services include: appointment scheduling and reminders; tailored resources based on a holistic needs assessment; personalised care plans created by a team of cancer nurses, outlining goals, care team and recommended resources; and access to a multidisciplinary team – a tailored care team working collaboratively to support the individual.
The multidisciplinary team provides access to high quality cancer experts from over 20 different specialisms, including: cancer nurse specialists, dietitians, physiotherapists, psychologists, occupational therapists, menopause specialist genetic counsellors, and clinical exercise coaches.
Results from Perci Health’s own experience, shows how this service can help by improving clinical outcomes:
- 65% of users report a reduction in their most bothersome symptoms
- Less than 2 working days average time for a virtual appointment
- 86% of users who complete their vocational rehabilitation pathway return to work within 12 months
- 88% of users would recommend Perci Health to a friend or family member
“Through this partnership, employees covered by their employer’s GIP policy with Legal & General will have access to a broad team of caring, cancer experts who innately understand the emotional marathon a cancer diagnosis brings into their lives. All too often, those diagnosed with cancer feel alone with their problems and with no energy to hunt down solutions. With Perci Health, employees have access to those solutions at their fingertips; bringing improved outcomes when living and working with cancer.
“With the changing cancer care landscape and growing population of people living beyond a cancer diagnosis in the UK, high quality support for the survivors of cancer has never been more important, and Legal and General are at the forefront of addressing this emerging problem for their employer clients.” says Kelly McCabe, Co-founder and CEO, Perci Health
“Thanks to medical advances, cancer survival rates have more than doubled* to the point where cancer is increasingly being classified a chronic disease.
“But data from GRiD shows that only 4% of people with cancer have returned to work after early or active intervention, despite cancer making up 27% of claims. We don’t want cancer – or any other health problem – to stand in the way of someone living and working to their potential.
“That’s why we’re on a mission to change long-held thinking on return to work, and so is Perci Health. In fact, our thinking on all counts is very much aligned, in terms of good work being beneficial for health, and wellbeing being about the physical, emotional, and social factors. We’re really excited about today’s announcement and about working in partnership to help drive better outcomes for more people.” says Vanessa Sallows, Group Protection Claims & Governance Director, Legal & General
