Tesco's New Health Initiative: Tesco Introduces Virtual GP Appointments For UK Staff Amid NHS Pressure

Supermarket group Tesco plc TSCDF TSCDY, Britain's largest private-sector employer, plans to provide its 310,000 U.K. workers with virtual appointments with a private family doctor. 

The move comes in response to Britain's tight labor market, where companies are offering increased hourly wages, bonuses, free food, and other benefits to attract and retain staff. Over the past year, Tesco has increased staff wages by more than 15%. This new initiative might inspire other large employers to introduce similar benefits.

This new employee benefits package will also extend to their families, offering unlimited appointments with a general practitioner (GP) seven days a week, Reuters reported.

The U.K.'s National Health Service (NHS) is under strain due to the COVID-19 pandemic and an aging population. Many individuals struggle to get timely appointments with their local GPs or face long waiting lists for hospital treatment.

Research by Health Hero, in partnership with Tesco's health partner YuLife, indicates that while 84% of GP patients required an appointment last year, only 53% who sought a same-day appointment were successful. 

As per NHS data, nearly five million patients in England wait more than two weeks for a GP appointment every month.

The YuLife GPs, in collaboration with Tesco, can issue private prescriptions that can be collected at pharmacies on the same day or delivered to the employee's home. 

The appointments will be conducted either via online video calls or phone calls.

Other health services available to Tesco staff will include access to sleep therapists, nutritionists, counselors, exercise coaches, and physiotherapists.

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