On Sunday 15 April, the 3rd Brighton Marathon and Grand Hotel Mini Mile Races were staged and with just over 9,000 and just under 1,800 taking part respectively, the races constituted the biggest ever day of running in Brighton and Hove.

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.

"My Globe" provides information on 247 countries including facilities where English is spoken.  It also includes practical information on local culture and daily life such as public holidays, travel and transport as well as details of embassies, emergency numbers and safety and crime.

AXA PPP International said that members can also find out about vaccination requirements and local healthcare, including "health alerts" on communicable diseases prevalent in their destination country.

For more information please visit https://international.axappphealthcare.co.uk/MyGlobe/Login/Members

The acquisition expands the group's foothold in the corporate wellbeing and gym market after it acquired the Cannons Health & Fitness health club chain in 2007 and Bladerunner corporate fitness in 2010.

Source:  Health Insurance Magazine

Under Government reforms LAs will have a duty to ensure everyone in this age bracket is invited to receive an "MOT" which will assess their risk of developing life-threatening diseases including stroke and heart disease.

Launched in April 2009, the programme is currently the responsibility of NHS primary care trusts (PCTs).  At the time the Government estimated that it would prevent 1600 heart attacks and strokes each year and help save 650 lives.  However, reseach carried out by the charity Heart UK published last month suggests that progress has been "patchy" with nine PCTs yet to provide a single health check.

Source:  Health Insurance Magazine

A fun packed evening of entertainment and firewalking!  All firewalkers receive two hours training on the night and a complimentary glass of bubbly. 

For more information please visit the website www.rockinghorse.org.uk

Making life better for sick and disabled children in Sussex and Surrey

A survey carried out for ABTA, the travel agency trade association, suggests that many people are running the risk of facing huge medical bills should they fall ill because they have not taken out cover before travelling.

According to ABTA, this is because many – an estimated 21% – mistakenly believe that the British Government will cover their bills in the event that something goes wrong.  One in four, 25% of 15-24 year olds think that this is the case.

They survey also shows that 17% of people believe that travel insurance is unnecessary when travelling in Europe if they have a European Health Insurance Card which provides access to basic state medical care.  More than a quarter (26%) mistakenly believe that an EHIC card will cover their repatiration costs if they fall ill or have an accident and have to be flown back to the UK.

John de Vial, ABTA head of financial protection, said it is "very worrying" that so many people are putting their health and finances at risk by travelling abroad without insurance.

Lynda St Cooke of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said her organisation remains "very concerned" at the number of people travelling without comprehensive travel insurance.

While British embassies and consulates can provide some help to UK citizens overseas, such as contacting friends and family for them, consular staff cannot pay hospital bills for them, nor fly them home if they run out of holiday money.

ABTS de Vial added that in the current economic climate customers should be careful to purchase insurance at the time of booking their holiday to obtain cancellation cover for redundancy as well as any potential illness prior to travelling.

Source – Health Insurance Magazine

A contract has been signed by Bupa and BMI Healthcare which means the former's members will be able to access private healthcare across the majority of BMI Healthcare's 70 strong hospital network.

However, three hospitals – BMI Gisburne Park Hospital, BMI The Lancaster Hospital and BMI The Castle Consulting Suite – remain out of network.

Source: Health Insurance Magazine

They had an overwhelming response which made it very difficult to choose from.

The winning entry for the Amusing Category went to Sarah Louise with her crocheted bicycle taken underneath the Brooklyn Bridge, New York. 

Heart Cover – Members diagnosed with a heart condition will now have access to their dedicated nurse service which supports the member and their family through their treatment.  Time limits have been removed on members' out-patient cover for follow-ups for heart surgery treatments.  These improvements will apply immediately to all existing and new business.

Cancer Cover – There are now no time limits for licensed cancer drug treatments.  If experimental durg treatment is needed then AXA PPP healthcare will cover it if it is part of an ethical trial and pre-agreed by them.  In addition injectable hormone treatment and bisphosphonate treatment used to manage cancer will be fully covered while active treatment is being received.

AXA PPP healthcare will consider requests for experimental surgery which will be reviewed by their clinical team.  Time limits have been removed from cancer follow-ups and they won't count cancer out-patient consultations towards the member's general out-patient limits.

Palliative care will now be covered and AXA PPP healthcare will also donate £100 a night to a hospice charity when terminal patients are receiving hospice care.

Enhanced cover for Individual and SME plans will have the enhanced cancer changes applied from 9 January 2012 regardless of their renewal date.

Bupa has apologised for the inconvenience caused by the action, but argues that it is vital to maintain and improve the affordability of private healthcare for their members.

Not all BMI Healthcare facilities have been removed from Bupa's list and discussions with BMI Healthcare are oingoing with the hope to return the group's hospitals to its list of recognised facilities. 

Bupa has also confirmed that it is prepared to consider requests for members to use BMI hospitals on an out-of-network basis, with the member paying the shortfall.  Bupa will also cover consultations at de-listed hospitals, but not the cost of any procedures, including diagnostic tests.

Denplan is the UK's leading dental plan specialist and by expanding into the broader dental plan market, Simplyhealth has the opportunity to become better known for providing services to dentists and help more individuals with their dental health.

Throughout the process, Simplyhealth will ensure that they have sufficient resources so that service doesn't change for patients and customers for both businesses.  Their key concern will be to look after their clients, people, dentists and patients.

AXA, said it has sold Denplan, which it originally acquired in 1999 as part of the Guardian Royal Exchange acquistion, to focus on providing private medical insurance and associated medical services to individuals and businesses.

On top of old Volkswagens, this year the Santa Cruise was opened up to all makes of classic car.  On Sunday afternoon more than 70 vehichles, including VW camper vans and Beetles, MG's, Lotus 7's and a Beach Buggy cruised from Burgess Hill, down the A24, through Amberley and along the A27 to Chestnut Tree House, which is based near Arundel in West Sussex.

To read more visit www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk/default.asp?id=481

While Bupa continue their discussions with BMI, it now appears that in the absence of a significant reduction in prices BMI want to charge, Bupa may need to remove more BMI hospitals from their recognised hospital lists in the near future.

Aviva's new cancer pledge ensures that group and individual private medical insurance customers now have enhanced cover for cancer treatment, following the removal of previous benefit limits for some cancer drugs.

Recognising the importance for customers to have extensive cover and support at every stage of their cancer treatment, Aviva's new cancer pledge means that cancer treatments recommended by medical specialists are covered in full.  In addition, to help make things as comfortable as possible for customers following cancer treatment, the cover now features aftercare benefits including consultations with dieticians and help with the costs of wigs and external prostheses.

Instead of sending Christmas cards we shall be making a donation to chosen charity, Rockinghorse. 

Rockinghorse is an independent charity, which aims to make life better for sick and disabled children in Sussex and Surrey by ensuring medical facilities for children and young people are as cutting edge, comfortable, friendly and accessible as possible.  Many of the children they support have complex disabilities, health issues or short life expectancies.  Their families and carers need their help too, which is why Rockinghorse now support respite centres across the region as well as hospitals.

PHC's products are currently underwritten by Great Lakes Reinsurance (UK) plc and are reinsured by Munich Reinsurance Company.

PHC said that from 1st January 2012 all new business will be underwritten by AXA PPP healthcare and all renewing policies will be offered terms underwritten by AXA PPP healthcare.

Descending into Shoreditch with Hollywood actor, Luke Evans (Clash of the Titans, Tamara Drewe, Robin Hood, Mark cut and styled Luke's hair for an American magazine photo shoot.

Electric were then brought in to style Luke's hair for the premiere of The Three Musketeers in which he starts as Aramis and for Luke's forthcoming campaign with Police sunglasses.

Award winning Hair Stylist Mark is Creative Director and Entrepreneur behind the exclusive Electric brand encompassing beautiful Salons in Marylebone, Brighton, Oxford and Reading, a luxury Hair Care Range, Electric Studios and The Electric Education Academy.

For more information on Electric hair please visit the website   www.electric-hair.com  

As part of the new underwriting partnership with AXA PPP International a new 'on-line claim enquiry service' will be launched for both in-patient and day-patient treatment.

The process has been held up by the courts and Financial Services Authority, who are experiencing an increase in workload due to the pipeline of similar deals, according to the insurer.

In the meantime, both businesses are running as usual and quotes and renewals will continue to be accepted for both Simplyhealth's Preferential and Groupama Healthcare's Sante private medical insurance products.

The Guest Prize went to Sam Todd with a best of the day 39 points, 2nd place went to Charlie Eve (Carpenter Box) with Lee Stafford (XBG Plumbing & Heating) taking the winners prize with 37 points on countback.

The 2011 South Coast Golf Tour Order of Merit was a close fight between Charlie Eve, Paul Froome (LWS Creative) and the eventual winner by two points, Peter Raynsford (5 Rings Telecom).

A prize giving BBQ and Party was held at the exclusive Kennels at Goodwood which was a great success.

The Beat the Pro competition raised £425.00 for chosen charities –  St Barnabas  and Chestnut Tree House.

Debbie and Sarah Louise have both taken an NVQ 2 in Advice & Guidance and Team Leading & Management.  Lucy has taken an NVQ 2 in Customer Services and Business Administration and Sheena an NVQ 2 in Business Administration.

All have passed with flying colours – well done ladies!

Within our accounts department, Lauren and her horse 'Byebeck Evolution' (Evo) a seven year old fell stallion, took part in the Horse of the Year Show 2011 at Birmingham NEC in October. 

It is Evo's first year competing so Lauren was very proud of him for not just qualifying but being placed 7th overall at the final.  He is now having a winter holiday ready to start all over again next season!

YouTube Generation

Video-sharing website YouTube has become a phenomenally successful medium for people wanting to view anything from leisure, news, current affairs and new knowledge.  19 year old Hove resident YouTube sensation, Marcus Butler, has recently been awarded with one of the site's biggest accolades.

To read more …  http://issuu.com/Absolutemagazine/docs/absolute_brighton_sept_2011/73  

If you are interested in viewing Marcus Butler's YouTube channel and his winning video, visit www.youtube.com/MarcusButlerTV

As a client of SJA International, we are able to offer our clients a 5% discount on Corporate and Individual Flu Injections through Your Excellent Health Service.

Corporate clients – On-site fees vary with numbers but could be as low as £8 per vaccine plus a nurse on-site fee and travelling expenses.  An online booking system will be available for employees to choose their ‘slot’.

Private Individuals – Appointments at 1 Harley Street, London. The fee would be £12 per vaccine.

To book your appointment or to find out further details please ring 020 7 580 5467 and quote ‘SJA’.