Last week, Matt Hancock published a new report highlighting the government’s thinking on prevention in healthcare, ahead of the social care Green Paper which is expected in December.

Bupa UK has said the report and the promise of a Green Paper is ‘hugely welcome.’

They said: “We know that ill health amongst working-age people alone costs the economy around £100 billion a year, and so any means of preventing chronic diseases makes sense not only in terms of personal health, but also economically. The UK currently spends £97 billion of public money on treating disease and only £8 billion on preventive healthcare – we agree with the government that this balance needs to change.

It’s very encouraging to see this week’s report highlight the importance of early, proactive action from employers to support those who are struggling with their health, and the concern(s) the report raises about the current lack of access to expert advice on preventive health. These are both issues we feel strongly about. Through both our insurance business and our health clinics, we have seen the value that businesses and their employees gain from early access to the support and services they need to manage their health.”

Dr Luke James, medical director at Bupa UK Insurance, said: “We welcome the government’s recognition of the vital importance of mental health. We know from our conversations with employers of all sizes, across the UK, that supporting the mental health and wellbeing of their employees is increasingly a priority for them and it’s encouraging to see the government recognise that good preventive healthcare needs to focus on both physical and mental health. The Green Paper will provide an opportunity to talk about our market leading Business Mental Health Advantage, which was launched in April this year, and the work we continue to do to enhance our mental health offering to customers.

We look forward to engaging with the government over the coming months on these vital issues. In the meantime, we remain committed to ensuring our customers get the best possible preventive care, whether through health insurance or through the services offered in our health clinics.”