How to assess a health assessment

Posted on 28th May 2025 at 12:01

The Complete Guide to Employee Health Assessments: Prevention, Productivity, and Peace of Mind

As an HR manager, you face a growing challenge. How do you keep your workforce healthy, productive, and engaged whilst managing ever-increasing healthcare costs? According to the Office for National Statistics, the sickness absence rate rose to 2.6% in 2022, an increase of 0.4 percentage points from 2021 and the highest it has been since 2004.

The answer lies in shifting from reactive healthcare to proactive prevention through comprehensive employee health assessments.

This topic was explored in detail in our Lunch and Learn session, where our GP Dr Amina Albeyeti discussed the transformative power of workplace health assessments with Verve Healthcare sales director Steve Desborough. The video highlights how the right approach to employee health can benefit both individuals and organisations, creating a healthy, happy and productive workforce.

What exactly are employee health assessments?

Think of employee health assessments as an MoT for your team members' wellbeing.

In this Lunch and Learn session, Steve asked Dr Albeyeti to explain what these assessments involve. Dr Albeyeti explained: "We do like to think of these health checks as an opportunity to just lift the lid on health and understand what the main issues are factually with that person's health, but also what their concerns may be because they have a family history or something's happened to a best friend and that's just playing on their mind."

These comprehensive evaluations go far beyond basic health screenings. They provide a detailed picture of each employee's current health status while identifying potential risks before they become serious problems. The process includes blood tests, physical observations, and importantly, time for genuine conversation about health concerns that might otherwise go unspoken.

What makes these assessments particularly valuable is their personalised approach.

As Dr Albeyeti noted during the discussion: "When it's specific to the patient, you can tell them the areas that they're going to pick up immediately and what's going to change over the next three weeks, six weeks, and then beyond."

The hidden cost of poor employee health

The financial impact of workplace ill-health extends far beyond what appears in your annual sickness absence reports.

According to the Nuffield Trust's comprehensive analysis, the reported sickness absence rate for NHS staff across 2022 (5.6%) was higher than the public sector average (3.6% in 2022). The report also found that over the course of 2022, six million days were recorded for staff being sick due to mental health and wellbeing related reasons. Anxiety, stress, depression and other psychiatric illnesses account for around a quarter (23%) of sick days.

But these statistics only tell part of the story. When employees struggle with undiagnosed health issues, the effects ripple through your organisation in ways that often remain invisible:

Presenteeism costs more than absenteeism. Employees who come to work while unwell are significantly less productive, make more mistakes, and can create additional health and safety risks. The Nuffield Trust found that over half (57%) of NHS staff reported going into work despite not feeling well enough.

Delayed intervention increases treatment complexity. During our Lunch and Learn, Dr Albeyeti highlighted a key concern: "The cost of doing any of these tests is going up astronomically within the NHS and outside the NHS, and even getting an allocation for something as simple as a CT scan, five, six years ago, you'd wait a couple of weeks. Now it's months and months that you're waiting." This delay means that manageable conditions become complex, expensive problems.

Mental health challenges compound physical symptoms. The interconnection between physical and mental wellbeing means that untreated conditions often create a cascade of additional health issues, further increasing costs and reducing productivity.

Why prevention beats cure: the business case for health assessments

Workplace wellbeing is not just the right thing to do, it also makes good business sense. The evidence consistently shows that proactive healthcare interventions deliver measurable returns on investment.

Earlier detection saves money. When health issues are identified early, treatment is typically less invasive, shorter in duration, and significantly less expensive. In our Lunch and Learn session, Steve asked Dr Albeyeti about the knock-on effects of late diagnosis. Dr Albeyeti said: "Being unwell for a long time takes its toll, and it makes you more unwell in yourself. So the sooner we can pick up an issue and start treatment, it means your body hasn't had to go through the ordeal for a whole year to get to a treatment."

Reduced sickness absence. Proactive workplace healthcare can reduce sickness absence by identifying and addressing health risks before they require time off work. This is particularly important given current NHS waiting times, which can leave employees unable to access timely treatment through traditional channels.

Improved employee engagement. Health assessments demonstrate genuine care for employee wellbeing, which builds trust and loyalty. Dr Albeyeti observed that employees: "Really enjoy the opportunity to talk about themselves rather than being about their work, it's now about them. And that focus does help them to feel very empowered about the fact that their health is of a priority to not only themselves and their family, but also to their employer."

Enhanced recruitment and retention. According to research by Deloitte, high levels of employee wellbeing have been shown to improve organisational performance including higher productivity, lower attrition, reduced absenteeism, as well as greater loyalty and discretionary effort. In today's competitive job market, comprehensive health benefits can be a significant differentiator.

Family benefits create wider impact. Health assessments often have positive effects beyond the individual employee. As Dr Albeyeti noted: "Usually, those predispositions actually do work within the family. Then if you can be empowered to look after your own health, it will just follow on that your family will also benefit from changes.

Understanding Verve Healthcare's health assessment packages

Verve Healthcare offers three distinct packages designed to meet different organisational needs and budgets. During our Lunch and Learn, Dr Albeyeti explained the thinking behind this tiered approach:

Essential Health Assessment

The Essential package focuses on immediate health priorities. As Dr Albeyeti explained: "We're just doing the basic stuff that everyone needs for the next three to six months to give us a quick idea of what's the chance of us having a serious illness that might impact our wellbeing and our ability to work in a happy way over the next few months."

This assessment covers:

Weight and cardiovascular risk assessment

Stroke risk evaluation

Bone and musculoskeletal health indicators

Basic blood panel for immediate health concerns

The Essential package is ideal for organisations beginning their workplace health journey or those with budget constraints who still want to provide meaningful health support.

Extended Health Assessment

The Extended package takes a longer-term view. "We're looking at a little bit of a longer time frame, maybe what may cause problems over the next year," Dr Albeyeti noted. "Then we look at kidney function, we look at some cancer markers, we look at thyroid function, because these are things that may have an impact over the next year."

Additional elements include:

Kidney function testing

Cancer screening markers

Thyroid function assessment

Extended blood panel for medium-term health planning

The importance of clinical expertise and environment

One of the key differentiators of quality health assessments is the involvement of experienced clinical professionals. In this Lunch and Learn session, Steve asked Dr Albeyeti about the minimum requirements for clinicians. Dr Albeyeti said: "With our GP settings, obviously, they have to be very qualified. They're very experienced GP, so they're not newly qualified general practitioners."

Why GP involvement matters

Many organisations offer basic health screenings, but the value lies in professional interpretation and guidance. As Dr Albeyeti noted: "It's easy to pick up a test kit online that just does your blood test and that's it. You're still in the dark because that test on its own doesn't mean anything without all the expertise that comes with seeing the doctor that understands health."

The GP consultation provides:

Professional interpretation of results in context

Identification of patterns and connections between different health markers

Personalised recommendations based on individual risk factors

Education about ongoing health monitoring

Clear guidance on next steps

Clinical environment builds trust

The setting matters significantly for health assessments. During our Lunch and Learn, Steve asked about the importance of clinical environments. Dr Albeyeti said: "In a clinical setting, when it's a professional, it gives you the opportunity to be very honest."

She explained how patients often save their most important concerns until the end of consultations, requiring skilled healthcare professionals to build rapport and encourage openness.

This professional environment provides:

Confidential, trusted space for health discussions

Proper clinical governance and safety procedures

Access to immediate medical support if urgent issues are identified

Professional boundaries that encourage honest health conversations

Addressing HR challenges through health assessments

Health assessments directly address several key challenges that HR managers face daily:

Managing stress and mental health concerns

According to research by the CIPD, work-related stress remains a significant issue in UK workplaces. While specific statistics on management style as a cause of stress would need to be verified with current CIPD data, health assessments provide a structured way to identify stress-related health impacts and offer support before they escalate.

The comprehensive assessment includes discussion of social factors, work-life balance, and mental health concerns. This allows for early identification of employees who might benefit from additional support, whether through employee assistance programmes, occupational health referrals, or workplace adjustments.

Supporting an ageing workforce

As employees work longer, health assessment becomes increasingly important. Dr Albeyeti said: "There's a big move over the last five or six years for regenerative medicine, rejuvenation medicine, looking at living longer and living healthier, being able push ourselves a little bit further than we've ever done."

Health assessments help older employees:

Identify age-related health risks early

Plan for health maintenance throughout their career

Access preventive treatments that keep them productive

Feel valued and supported by their employer

Reducing recruitment and retention costs

In competitive job markets, comprehensive health benefits become a significant advantage. Health assessments demonstrate genuine investment in employee wellbeing, building loyalty and reducing turnover costs.

The assessments also help retain valuable employees by:

Addressing health concerns before they become serious

Providing peace of mind about health status

Showing organisational commitment to long-term employee welfare

Creating positive word-of-mouth about company culture

What happens after the assessment: ongoing support and action

The value of health assessments extends well beyond the initial appointment. During our Lunch and Learn, Steve asked about post-assessment processes. Dr Albeyeti explained the comprehensive approach: "There are two teams that work on the report once it's completed. The operations team obviously makes sure that all the information is gathered correctly, that it's all displayed in the right way."

Immediate safety net

Every assessment includes urgent result protocols. Dr Albeyeti said: "There is always a doctor that will review all the blood tests, firstly, to ensure there isn't an emergency that's about to happen. Sometimes blood tests will come up with a very urgent result. They need to be acted on potentially within two days."

This safety net provides:

24/7 medical oversight of results

Immediate contact for urgent findings

Direct liaison with NHS or private healthcare providers

Clear escalation procedures for serious health concerns

"Sometimes blood tests will come up with a very urgent result. They need to be acted on potentially within two days." - GP Dr Amina Albeyeti

Comprehensive reporting

Reports go beyond simple test results to provide actionable insights. As Dr Albeyeti explained: "The GP will review it to make sure that it all makes sense. And there's an overall idea behind the end of the report, what needs to be done next, rather than just doing a this box needs this, this box needs that."

Each report includes:

Clear explanation of all test results

Risk assessment and future health planning

Specific, personalised recommendations

Monitoring schedule for ongoing health management

Integration with existing healthcare relationships

Ongoing health planning

The assessment creates a foundation for long-term health management. Employees receive guidance on which tests need regular monitoring, which health markers to watch, and how to maintain their health improvements over time.

Trust the company with 30 years' NHS experience

Verve Healthcare's expertise comes from being part of SELDOC, which has nearly three decades of NHS experience. As Steve mentioned during our Lunch and Learn, "SELDOC have been providing nearly 30 years of assistance to the NHS through a number of different ways, and 111 Services, urgent treatment care, and our GP services."

This experience translates into:

Robust clinical governance procedures

Extensive network of qualified healthcare professionals

Proven track record of managing healthcare at scale

Understanding of both NHS and private healthcare integration

Ability to handle capacity demands and urgent situations

Dr Albeyeti highlighted the capacity advantages: "We have access to brilliant doctors all the time throughout the year, and we always have people waiting to have more shifts with us. So I think we're just a little bit ahead of the game because we're not new."

The growing demand for workplace health assessments

The healthcare landscape is changing rapidly, and smart organisations are adapting their approach to employee wellbeing. During our discussion, Steve said: "There's certainly an increase in demand for health assessments, which has potentially led to capacity issues within the industry."

Several factors drive this increased demand:

NHS capacity constraints

With NHS waiting times at record levels, employees cannot rely solely on public healthcare for timely interventions. Health assessments provide alternative access to healthcare professionals and early identification of issues that might otherwise go undetected for months.

Changing employee expectations

Modern employees expect comprehensive benefits packages that include health and wellbeing support. According to Statista, 54% of organisations in the United Kingdom who were taking active steps to improve employee health and wellbeing reported that this had a large focus on mental health, with a further 37% reporting that they had moderately focused on mental health.

Rising private medical insurance costs

As private medical insurance premiums increase, many organisations seek alternative ways to provide healthcare value. Health assessments offer preventive benefits that can reduce long-term healthcare costs while providing immediate value to employees.

Post-pandemic health awareness

The pandemic heightened awareness of health vulnerabilities and the importance of preventive care. Employees are more conscious of their health status and appreciate employers who provide proactive health support.

Flexible solutions for every organisation.

Verve Healthcare understands that every organisation has unique needs, budgets, and workforce characteristics. Our satellite clinic network provides flexibility in delivery, whether you need on-site assessments, local clinic access, or a combination of both.

The pop-up clinic model means health assessments can be delivered:

At your premises for maximum convenience

At local clinical facilities for professional environment

Through regional networks for multi-site organisations

With flexible scheduling to minimise work disruption

This flexibility ensures that geography, workforce distribution, or operational constraints don't prevent access to quality health assessments.it it.

Making the case to senior leadership

When presenting health assessment proposals to senior leadership, focus on the measurable business benefits:

Financial returns: Present the cost comparison between preventive assessments and reactive healthcare, including reduced sickness absence, lower insurance claims, and decreased recruitment costs.

Risk management: Highlight how health assessments reduce organisational risk by identifying potential health issues before they impact operations or create workplace safety concerns.

Competitive advantage: Demonstrate how comprehensive health benefits support recruitment, retention, and employee engagement in competitive job markets.

Regulatory compliance: Show how proactive health support helps meet duty of care obligations and supports workplace wellbeing requirements.

Data and insights: Explain how aggregate health data (anonymised) can inform broader organisational wellbeing strategies and identify trends requiring attention.

Choosing the right health assessment package

Selecting the appropriate health assessment package depends on several factors:

Organisational budget: While comprehensive assessments provide maximum value, essential and extended packages still deliver significant benefits within smaller budgets.

Workforce demographics: Younger workforces might benefit from essential assessments focused on lifestyle factors, while older employees may require more comprehensive screening.

Industry risk factors: High-stress environments, physical demands, or exposure to health hazards might justify comprehensive assessments for early risk identification.

Existing health benefits: Consider how assessments complement current employee benefits and fill gaps in healthcare provision.

Organisational health culture: Use assessments as a foundation for broader workplace wellbeing initiatives or as an entry point for organisations beginning their health journey.

Implementation best practices

Successful health assessment programmes require careful planning and communication:

Clear communication: Explain the purpose, process, and benefits of health assessments to all employees. Address concerns about confidentiality and voluntary participation.

Manager engagement: Train managers to discuss health assessments positively and support employee participation without creating pressure.

Scheduling flexibility: Provide multiple appointment options to accommodate different work patterns and personal preferences.

Follow-up support: Ensure employees understand their results and have access to ongoing support for implementing health recommendations.

Regular review: Monitor programme uptake, employee feedback, and health outcomes to continuously improve the offering.

The future of workplace health

The shift toward preventive healthcare represents a fundamental change in how organisations approach employee wellbeing. Health assessments are not just an employee benefit; they're a strategic investment in organisational resilience, productivity, and sustainability.

As Dr Albeyeti noted during our Lunch and Learn: "There is a big move now within health care. Definitely, prevention is better than the cure. We know that it costs less financially. It costs much less time."

This trend will only accelerate as healthcare costs continue rising and NHS capacity remains constrained.

Forward-thinking organisations are already adapting their approach to employee health, recognising that a healthy, happy and productive workforce provides competitive advantage in challenging economic conditions.

Taking the next step

Every day you delay implementing health assessments is a day your employees face preventable health risks, and your organisation bears unnecessary costs from reactive healthcare, sickness absence, and reduced productivity.

The question isn't whether you can afford to invest in employee health assessments. It's whether you can afford not to. With flexible packages designed to meet different budgets and comprehensive support from experienced healthcare professionals, there's never been a better time to prioritise your workforce's health.

Verve Healthcare's health assessment packages offer proven solutions backed by 30 years of NHS experience. Whether you choose Essential, Extended, or Comprehensive assessments, you're investing in your employees' future and your organisation's success.

Ready to create a healthier, more productive workforce?

Book a meeting with our team today. We'll work with you to understand your specific needs, explain the benefits of each assessment package, and design a bespoke solution that fits your workforce requirements and organisational budget.

Ready to create a healthier, more productive workforce? Book now.

Your employees' health can't wait, and neither should your decision to support them. Contact Verve Healthcare now to discuss how our health assessments can transform your workplace wellbeing strategy and deliver measurable benefits for everyone in your organisation.

Trust the company with 30 years' NHS experience to help you build a healthy, happy and productive workforce. Because workplace wellbeing is not just the right thing to do, it also makes good business sense.

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