The ground breaking £25,500 department, funded by Rockinghorse, was officially launched by Dr Assad Butt (Consultant Paediatrician and Gastroenterologist), Rockinghorse Chief Executive Ryan Heal and patient Jamie.  Unique in the UK, the unit will help advance the treatment of a range of extreme GI conditions, such as short gut syndrome.

The launch is the culmination of six years' work by Dr Butt and his team to develop the highly specialised department, which boasts several key pieces of equipment specially designed for research that will have national and international significance. 

This Bowel Cancer Awareness Month is focusing on raising awareness of the symptoms and encouraging people to go to their GPs if they have concerns.

Understanding the development of bowel cancer can be helpful in understanding how the disease can affect an individual.  The following factsheet gives an overview of how bowel cancer develops, how it is diagnosed, staged and possible treatment options Understanding Bowel Cancer

For information please contact the Bowel Cancer UK Support and Service on 0800 840 3540

Wear Something    Yellow   to  Work – Friday 01 March 2013

Turn your workplace yellow by getting your colleagues to Wear Something Yellow to Work this March and support the Great Daffodil Appeal.

For more details, please visit the website http://www.mariecurie.org.uk

Cardiovascular disease is an umbrella term for all diseases of the heart and circulation, including heart disease, stroke, heart failure and congenital heart disease.

Collectively, heart and circulatory diseases cause more than a quarter of all deaths in the UK, accounting for more than 179,000 deaths each year at an estimated cost of £19 billion to the economy.

For more information visit the British Heart Foundation website http://www.bhf.org.uk

Following a career of reserch in neurophamacology, Dr Nakajima joined WHO in 1974, where he  helped develop the concept of essential medicines.  He served as Director of the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific from 1978 to 1988, and as the Organization's fourth Director-General, from 1988 to 1998.

Love your Liver in 3 simple steps …

Step 1 – Keep off alcholol for 2 to 3 days in a row

Step 2 – Take more exercise and stay fit

Step 3 – Cut down on sugar and fat

Just staying off alcholol for two to three days at a time, avoiding fatty foods and taking regular exercise are great ways to Love your Liver.

The British Liver Trust is a UK charity for adults with liver conditions.  The charity provides information, support and advice to help peole.

Once again, instead of sending Christmas cards, we will be making a donation to our chosen charity, Rockinghorse.

Rockinghorse is a Brighton based charity whose aim is to improve the lives of sick children throughout Sussex.  They are the official fundraising arm of the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital and also supports the Trevor Mann Baby Unit, where they raise money for life-saving and cutting edge medical equipment, while ensuring the children are treated in an environment that is better suited to their needs.

Each individual member of a Healthier Solutions policy will now earn their own No Claim Discount (NCD), rather than the NCD being applied to the policy itself.  This means that if one family member makes a claim, it does not affect the NCD of other members of the policy.

Each member will now also have a personal NCD allowance of £250 per policy year, allowing them to claim up to this amount for new claims without changing their NCD status1.

Aviva is also introducing a new £0 option for out-patient cover.  The new limit does not apply to out-patient treatment for cancer and will still have access to full cover for out-patient radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment, and CT, MRI and PET scans at recognised diagnostic centres.

In addition, increased benefits have been applied to psychiatric out-patient, minor GP surgery and children's speech therapy. 

The funds raised in the UK are directed to programmes run directly by Movember and their men's health partners, Prostate Cancer UK and the Institute of Cancer Research.  They work with these partners to ensure that Movember funds are supporting a broad range of innovative, world-class programmes in line with their strategic goals in the areas of awareness and education, surviorship and research.

In 2011 over 854,000 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas around the world raised £79.3 million.

The Health Insurance Awards are the premier awards for the UK health insurance and protection industry, recognising and rewarding excellend in both the intermediary and provider communities.

Health Insurance Company of the year was won by Aviva UK Health.

Champagne and Canapes on arrival, followed by a Fish & Chip Supper finished off with a pudding along with a live Jazz Band to accompany the evening with a Raffle and an Auction of "money can't buy items" … all for only £20 a ticket.

Tickets available at The Fish Factory, 5 East Street, Littlehampton BN17 6AU or call now on 01903 715000.

Corporate Clients – On-site fees vary with numbers.  An online booking system will be available for employees to choose their 'slot'.

Private Individuals – Appointments at 1 Harley Street, London.

To book your appointment or to find out further details please ring 020 7580 5467 and quote 'SJA'

Chartham Park is surrounded by ancient green belt woodland with magnificent views across the North Downs.  The 18 hole Par 72 Parkland Course has been designed to the highest standards and features an abundance of mature trees, carp filled lakes and several heathland holes on the back 9.  The course has buggy paths and the latest draining features.

Chartham Park is run by The Club Company who has developed a unique health and golf club concept in England combining a traditional golf environment with superb modern health and fitness facilities.

For more details of this event and the Tour please visit http://www.sc-golf.co.uk/south-coast-golf-tour/

Book your Tickets or Table for the End of Season Party Now

Tickets have now been released for the End of Season Party at stunning Mannings Heath on Friday 09 November, an ideal event for friends, colleagues and family.

For more details please visit http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/org/1278862811?s=9825886 – see Party at Mannings Heath.

The plan has been built around specific student needs, and offers a wide range of benefits including everyday health expenses such as dental and optical, wellbeing benefits such as physiotherapy and counselling helpline and support.

Premiums start at £9 per month and can provide £600 of savings.  You can choose from two different levels of cover to suit your needs and budget.

October is national breast cancer awareness month and The Best of Worthing has teamed up with Love your hospital Charity to put on a fundraising event raising money for the local breast unit at Worthing Hospital.

The event is being held at the The Empress Suite, Marine Parade, Worthing on Friday 05 October 2012 – 2pm to 8pm.  £2 entry.

Aviva's annual absence management report shows that 41% of employees surveyed want as much time off as possible when ill to help accommodate and assist their recovery, while a third would like the flexibility to build their hours up gradually when they return.

Just over half say they would like flexible working hours and 35% want to know they have a regular income if they are off sick.  The biggest concern employees say they would have if they were off sick is their recovery, followed by making ends meet financially.

The research also reveals the impact an absent employee can have on the workplace, with 40% of employers saying that if a worker is away someone else has to pick up the work.  Furthermore, 27% say productivity falls and 22% believe it affects the business financially, while 21% say standards suffer.

To help keep absence levels down, over a third of employers say they encourage staff to have a good work-life balance, while one in five offer private medical insurance and 13% offer group income protection.

Source: Health Insurance Magazine

Research shows tht the vast majority of Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) now impose thresholds or limits on referrals for procedures deemed 'non-urgent' or of 'low clinical value'.

The investigation by GP magazine reveals that the use of limits, which can deny patients treatment until their conditions deteriorate beyond thresholds set by the National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence (NICE), which decides on how the NHS spends its money, have risen over the past year.

Of 101 PCTs responding to a Freedom of Information Act request by GP, 91% has measures in place to limit GP referrals for such procedures for 2012/13.  Limits on cataract surgery are in place in 66% of trusts, while 59% restrict bariatric surgery and 59% limit joint surgery.

GPs and charities accused PCTs of 'introducing waiting lists by the back door' by limiting acess to care.

Source:  Health Insurance Magazine 

Julian has worked with large blue chip organisations for a number of years and has consistently built and developed his global knowledge and professional relationships.  What Julian brings to the table is a consultative and professional approach along with a personable and flexible manner.

It covers out-patient treatment, in/day-patient treatment for customers who require international medical insurance for a term between three and 11 months.  It is for professionals on international short-term work assignments; and families who have relocated to another country and are seeking a short-term international private medical insurance solution.

It does not cover maternity, newborn care, cancer, psychiatric or US treatment.

Britain's largest PMI provider said that "challenging" market conditions, a fall in the number of leads and high business acquisition costs meant that from the end of next month, brokers will no longer be able to sell its PMI products to individuals or group leavers. 

Bupa's ClientChoice, Bupa Care, Local Care, Local Hospital Care and Essential Care products will no longer be offered from 31 August this year to all new and ex-group scheme business, with the exception of specific affinity arrangements.

Linda Wallace, head of intermediary management at Bupa Health and Wellbeing said: "Challenging market conditions mean we need to continually scrutinise our products to ensure they are both meeting customer nees and are distributed in a way that is commercially viable".

An online survey of 2,000 people carried out by OnePoll on behalf of the provider reveals that the rising cost of living means many are not eating as healthily as they would like to, and half believe their health has suffered as a result of the recession.

Since a similar survey was conducted on behalf of PruHealth in 2008, 75% of people said they have changed their eating and shopping habits, and 85% of these said the recession and rising food prices were to blame.

Today, 59% of respondents admit they are finding it a challenge to eat five fruit or vegetables a day compared to 47% in 2008.  One in four people say they regularly take vitamin supplements because they are unable to eat as healthily as they like or to supplement their diet.

Source:  hi-mag.com

Family Funday – Saturday 28 July 2012

Fun for all the family!  Skate park, sports day games (for adults too), British Military Fitness obstacle course, tombola, face painting and much more.

Dragon Boat Race – Sunday 16 September 2012 Bewl Water, Lamberhurst, Kent

The largest Dragon Boat Race in Europe.  Teams of up to 16 paddlers and one drummer race over a 250 metre stretch of Bewl Water, Kent.  Entertainment and cash prizes for the winning teams!  Registration £320, £118 per person sponsorship.

If you would like further details of these events please visit the Rockinghorse website www.rockinghorse.org.uk

Within our accounts department, Lee Knight, completed the race in 4 hours and 22 minutes. 

Well done Lee!

A Freedom of Information request from the Patients Association to NHS Acute Trusts in England revealed tht waiting times for routine procedures such as knee replacements increased by 6% between 2010 and 2011, while the number of operations taking place fell.

Across the 93 trusts that responded with sufficient data, there were 18,628 fewer opertions performed in 2011 compared to 2010, a decline of 4.6%.  The biggest fall was in cataract procedures, which saw a 7.5% decrease.

Meanwhile, the largest increase in waiting times was for knee replacements, which saw an increase of 10.3 days on average, from 88.9 days to 99.2.

The Patients Association says the rise in waits for hip, knee, hernia, gallstone and hysterectomy operations was significant, with waits for knee, hernia and gallstone operations all seeing increases of 10%.

Source:  Health Insurance Magazine

Well done to Max Caunhye (Finance Director at Manhattan) for completing the London Marathon on Sunday in 3 hours and 37 minutes.  Max is fund raising for the Samaritans.

Samaritans is a confidential emotional support service for anyone in the UK and Ireland.  The service is available 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feeling of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide.  For more details and ways to support Samaritans please visit their website www.samaritans.org.

In total the London Marathon raises more than £50m per annum for great causes.

From 8am – 10am on the morning of each event day – for golfers and non-golfers.

One Off Joining Fee:  £100, Membership for all eight events in 2012:  £120, Ad-Hoc Events (up to 2) £15 each

Please visit http://www.sc-golf.co.uk/business-networking-club/

The South Coast Golf Tour - superb competitive golf, for all levels, teeing off after each Business Networking Club Event, across eight of the South's best venues.

Season Tickets:  £550, Guest Tickets from £65-85 per event depending on venue.  Season Tickets and Guest Tickets include attendance to the Business Networking Club breakfasts.

Please visit  http://www.sc-golf.co.uk/south-coast-golf-tour/ 

Also included is the charity Tour Putting Competition - for golfers and non-golfers plus mid and end of Season parties http://www.sc-golf.co.uk/south-coast-golf-tour/our-charity/

AXA said the acquisition demonstrated "a concerted bid" to grow the private medical insurance market by attracting new market entrants.

AXA PPP healthcare has been Bournmounth-based Health-on-Line's underwriter and claims handler since 2005.  AXA PPP chief executive Keith Gibbs said Health-on-Line is closely aligned with two "core areas" of the organisation's strategy.

Source:  Health Insurance Magazine

The 'dizzy Tour Putting Competition' is open to players and non players alike – anyone can putt!

Following on from the South's networking golf tour comes a unique new business networking club and you don't have to be a golfer.

The Networking Launch is to be held at Mannings Heath Golf Club, Nr Horsham, West Sussex on Thursday 29 March 2012 (5.30pm for 6pm Start / Finish 8.30pm.  Tickets £15 (includes welcome drink and supper).

For further details of the Launch and Golf Tour please visit the South Coast Golf website www.sc-golf.co.uk.

In his five years with Bupa International, Nick has worked across direct and intermediary sales before managing the intermediary sales and account management teams for Europe, Middle East, Africa and The Gulf Coast.

Nick will be focusing on business development for the international and domestic private healthcare market and other employee benefits.