Vitality strengthens cancer support for health and life members
Vitality has teamed up with Perci Health to introduce a dedicated Cancer Nurse Navigation service for members diagnosed with cancer. Perci Health is the UK's largest virtual cancer clinic, backed by Macmillan Cancer Support.
The partnership builds on Vitality's existing Cancer Support Programme, expanding what was previously a 12-week service into a personalised 12-month programme. Under the new arrangement, Vitality members diagnosed with cancer will have access to dedicated support from a Cancer Nurse Specialist,so they can navigate the wider impact of a diagnosis and access the right support at the right time.
What the new service offers
The nurse-led service sits alongside, rather than replaces, a member's usual medical team. Instead, it gives members a dedicated point of contact to help them understand their treatment, access specialist services and manage the wider impact cancer can have on their day-to-day lives.
That wider impact can be significant. According to Perci Health's own data, those affected by cancer identify an average of 24 unmet needs spanning physical symptoms, emotional and psychological wellbeing, social relationships, practical issues and access to information, underlining why support beyond clinical treatment matters.
Dr Arun Thiyagarajan, CEO at VitalityHealth UK, said: "Cancer treatment has advanced significantly in recent years, which means that more people are living with and beyond cancer than ever before. This is fantastic news, but it also means many more people are left navigating complex decisions about their care, managing the side effects of treatment, and dealing with the longer-term physical, practical and psychological impact cancer can have on their lives."
How the Cancer Nurse Specialist helps
Working alongside a member's existing healthcare team, the Cancer Nurse Specialist will help members understand their diagnosis and treatment options, prepare for appointments, manage side effects and treatment-related challenges, access specialist support services where appropriate, and navigate the emotional and practical impact of cancer. It will also support members as they rebuild confidence returning to work and everyday life following treatment.
Kelly McCabe, co-founder and CEO of Perci Health, said: "With hundreds of cancer types and treatment combinations, each person's experience is deeply personal. Our expert clinical team has designed a truly personalised, evidence-based service, delivered over 12 months, that recognises people's needs change over time and provides ongoing specialist nurse care to help them adjust to life during and beyond treatment."
Who can access the service?
For VitalityHealth members, the service sits alongside the insurer's existing Oncology Care pathway and Cancer Support Programme, bringing together support across every stage of the cancer journey, from preventive screening and diagnostics through to treatment, case management and now personalised nurse support.
For VitalityLife members, access depends on the type of cover they hold. The service is available to members claiming on Income Protection through Vitality's Recovery Pathway, those claiming on Serious Illness Cover for a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis, and those making a terminal illness claim on their Life Cover.
Chris Steele, founder and editor of myTribe Insurance Experts, said:
"Cancer support has become one of the areas where health and protection insurers are really starting to differentiate themselves, and this is a strong example of that. Extending support from 12 weeks to a full 12 months, and backing it with a named Cancer Nurse Specialist, reflects the reality that a cancer diagnosis affects far more than just the medical treatment itself. It's particularly encouraging to see this extended to Vitality's protection products too, not just its health cover."
Further reading: Vitality health insurance review and Vitality life insurance review.
