As the managing director of Vitality UK, Keith Klintworth describes their approach to lifestyle change and support healthy living; how they support their staff and insights into how their approach is applicable to the challenges facing the NHS.
Keith started his career as a Dr working working in primary care, hospitals and anaesthesia for 15 years focusing on cardiac and neuro specialisms followed by stints in the private sector and the World Health Organisation.
Intrigued by partnership models in insurance models he worked in roles that were based around behavioural change and rewarding people for making changes in their lifestyles. Premiums are lowered for those who make changes - evidenced by data and analysis.
Vitality have experienced that it takes 7-10 weeks to break a habit and make change in lifestyles.
The applicability of this approach to the NHS would be:
The approach to supporting staff to be healthy revolves around incentivising them to make change and achieve “gold level’. The same approach could be used in the NHS.
Why don’t Boards report on how they are supporting staff to be healthy - not just their core workforce statistics on absences etc.
Reflecting on the differences between the independent sector and the NHS, Keith defines - innovation, flexibility and standards. Consultants sign up with the clear knowledge that they will be judged against patient feedback, and data on clinical outcomes - therefore consultants are chosen to work for them on best outcomes, which minimises cost to the insurer.
As Keith looks to the future and steps down from the Managing Director role in not too distant future, he reflects on what he is likely to be spending his time doing.
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