Aviva extends in-house back rehab to other areas

Aviva’s Back-Up rehabilitation service has been enhanced to cover a more extensive range of common musculoskeletal issues.

Developed initially to help support private medical insurance customers with back and neck conditions, the extended Back-Up Plus service is now available to customers on corporate PMI schemes.

It includes musculoskeletal issues relating to knees, feet, elbows, limbs, shoulders, joints and muscles.

The service has already been proven to significantly improve the speed of recovery and return to work rate for customers with back and neck conditions.

In the last year, 97% of Back-Up customers spoke to a qualified physiotherapist within two hours, avoiding a wait to see a GP.

Those customers requiring physiotherapy had an average of five sessions through the Back-Up scheme, compared to a previous average number of nine sessions.

Employees who suspect a musculoskeletal issue will be referred to the Back-Up Plus service, where a dedicated medically qualified case manager will conduct an in-depth assessment before offering practical, clinical advice and support.

For customers using Back-Up Plus through a corporate scheme, their personal case manager can also work with their line manager to advise how best to help a safe and effective return to work.

Andrew McMillan, rehabilitation and claims development manager at Aviva, said: " "Our recent Health of the Workplace survey shows that musculoskeletal conditions are one of the top causes of sickness absence in the UK and employers are looking for greater support and understanding of how to help employees with such conditions.

"The extension of our Back-Up service will offer more customers a personally tailored treatment plan that will hasten their recovery and return to work, helping reduce sickness absence costs for employers."