BreastHealth UK

I recently met with Troels Jordansen, the Danish MD of BreastHealth UK, and spent some time talking to him about their breastcheck and screening services which they have developed for the corporate market. Having learned how much more can be done to prevent or reduce the enormous financial and emotional costs of breast cancer, I now believe their services to be some of the most relevant and valuable health benefits available to employers and their employees. 

With 125 women being diagnosed in the UK every day, there aren’t many people who haven’t been affected by breast cancer, either directly or indirectly, including me. Currently 1 in 9 women will suffer from it at some point in their lives with this increasing to 1 in 7 by 2020. It is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women under the age of 35.

The UK has one of the worst records for cancer survival in Europe and I believe much of this is down to the lack of emphasis put on screening and early detection.

I’m very happy to promote BreastHealth’s services through this website and for a number of reasons, I’m going to work with them on their proposition for employers. This is an official Shandwell endorsement and also an up front declaration of my interest.

Employers can fund their services directly or arrange it as a voluntary benefit, possibly under a salary sacrifice scheme – BreastHealth UK has confirmation from the Revenue that there is no tax or National Insurance liability for the employee under such an arrangement. Employers also benefit from National Insurance savings.

If employers have a cash plan in place, most providers give cover for screening up to a specified limit, say £100, with the employee choosing what screening they want.

The BreastHealth check with a cancer nurse specialist would fall under the terms of screening. In effect, the cost of such screening would have already been paid for either by the employer if the cash plan is company funded, or the employee if it is on a voluntary benefit basis. As cash plans are not priced on a claims made basis, rather they are priced per capita, having such screening would not incur any additional costs, no matter how the cash plan is funded.

If this is something you would like to discuss for your own organisation then just let me know.