Bupa reveals London workers book holidays for GP visits

A new Bupa UK study has revealed that during the peak of the summer holiday season time-poor workers in London are using their holiday days to attend routine health appointments.

The results show that nearly two-thirds (64%) admitted they regularly book a whole day’s holiday to attend a health appointment, such as with a GP, dentist or physiotherapist, because they don’t have enough free time to visit during the working day.

In addition, a quarter (28%) of respondees revealed they have waited for at least four weeks before having time to book an appointment for a health issue.

The study was commissioned by Bupa UK to mark the opening of its new flagship ‘superclinic’ in Canary Wharf, Crossrail Place.

The 8,000 sq ft ‘superclinic’ provides Canary Wharf’s residents and 100,000 plus working professionals with a one-stop shop for everyday healthcare services. The clinic includes dental, GP and physiotherapy appointments and health assessments.

Opening hours are aimed to cater for the needs of busy professionals, with centre appointments from 7am through to 8pm. With local residents in mind, the centre is also open all day on Saturday.

Commenting on the research findings, Lee Martin, Manager at Bupa’s new Centre in Canary Wharf, Crossrail Place said: “We know that people struggle to fit their health and wellbeing needs into their busy working lives. This means some aren’t addressing health issues promptly and others are having to use precious holiday time just to get a routine appointment. Alongside our jobs, it is crucial people don’t neglect their health as this may lead to time out of the office in the long run.

“Our new clinic in Canary Wharf, Crossrail Place, has been created specifically to meet the needs and pace of modern lifestyles. It provides a range of services, extended opening hours, excellent transport links, and is located amongst Canary Wharf’s 100,000 plus workers. This means it is perfectly placed to offer the capital’s busy professionals and commuters everyday health services at a time and place that suits them, so they can spend their annual leave relaxing.”

Furthermore, over half (57%) of Londoners admitted they regularly have to cancel or re-schedule because of work commitments and 59% admitted they’re usually too busy during the working day to attend.

Among the most common reasons given were last-minute work deadlines (45%), covering for other colleagues (37%) and being worried that taking time out of the office would reflect badly with colleagues or superiors (24%).

Other alarming results from the study were:

• Over half (54%) of Londoners avoid booking health appointments even when they have a health issue because of struggling to get time out of the office.
• Consequently, nearly half (44%) say that a health complaint has worsened because they have been unable to attend an appointment, resulting in them taking a sick day.
• Nearly two-fifths (39%) of Londoners admitted being able to attend health appointments would increase their job satisfaction and over a third (38%) said it would boost their productivity.
• Just over a third (34%) admitted that clinics with longer than normal opening hours were the biggest help when booking health appointments

Bupa’s new Health and Dental Centre is now open in Crossrail Place. Services include health assessments, GP appointments, dental, physiotherapy and sports physicians, and travel vaccinations.

The modern purpose built centre provides the latest clinical equipment, with eight dental surgeries and 17 consultation rooms. It is open to everyone, regardless of whether they have private health insurance, and offers a range of convenient evening and weekend appointments.