Healix partners with Check4Cancer for rapid treatment access

Healthcare trust provider, Healix, has partnered with Check4Cancer, a cancer screening and diagnostic company. The partnership will enable workers to receive rapid diagnosis and fast access to cancer treatment.

Employees of Healix’s member companies will for the first time be able to access three diagnostic pathways for breast, skin, and prostate cancer assessments via their Healix claims portal, without the need for a GP referral. Diagnostic appointments with a consultant can be accessed within a number of days from Check4Cancer’s UK-wide network of clinics.

Healix is providing the service following research by The British Medical Association (BMA). The research has found that the percentage of patients told they have cancer within four weeks of an urgent referral remains low, at 73.5% in April 2024. The number of patients receiving their first cancer treatment within two months (62-days) of an urgent referral stood at 66.6%, well below the operational standard of 85%.

Check4Cancer has seen a 50% increase in demand in the last two years for people entering diagnostic pathways via their employers as waiting times soar.

Ian Talbot, CEO of Healix Health, said:

“Our partnership with Check4Cancer comes at an important time for workers across the UK, as access to cancer pathways via the NHS is becoming increasingly challenging.

“Employers have an important role to play in supporting people who have symptoms of cancer or are going through treatment. We know that receiving early diagnosis is essential in ensuring people have the best chance of a successful recovery.

“With Cancer Research UK finding that cancer cases will rise from 384,000 in 2023 to over 500,000 by 2040, it’s important that employers are stepping in to plug the gaps in the health service, providing fast access to diagnosis when symptoms first appear.”

Professor Gordon Wishart, founder and chief medical officer, at Check4Cancer said: 

“It’s never been a more important time for employers to step in to support their workforce as NHS services struggle to cope due to an increasing and ageing population.

“Giving employees access to fast diagnosis is essential in ensuring treatment begins as quickly as possible, leading to quick recovery, less absenteeism and more lives saved.”

Image: Provided by Healix.

Emma Cockings Emma is a content editor for Claims Media. Emma is a experienced writer with a background in client-centric personal injury for a major firm. She has attended and reported on multiple brokerage events throughout her career.