Campaign from Vhi aims to encourage people nationwide to volunteer at their local parkrun

Vhi survey of parkrun participants finds that:

• 9 out of 10 parkrun participants said they would recommend volunteering at parkrun to friends or family
• 93% of respondents say their health and wellbeing has improved from volunteering at parkrun
• Find out more and register for parkrun at: www.parkrun.ie

5^th September 2023: Businesswoman Aimee Connolly, Olympian David Gillick and Vhi Clinical Psychologist Dr Lydia Mackeogh today launched Vhi’s More Than Running parkrun campaign.

Building on the award-winning More than Running campaign from last year, which showcased the various health benefits that participating in parkrun can bring walkers, joggers and runners, Vhi are this year calling on people across the country to volunteer at their local parkrun, not only for the benefit of participants, but for their own health and wellbeing too.

A recent Vhi survey of parkrun participants centred on volunteering habits and benefits. Nine out of ten people surveyed said they would recommend volunteering at parkrun to friends and family, a ringing endorsement that is reflected in the improvements respondents say they have noticed to their overall wellbeing:

·         93% of respondents say their health and wellbeing has improved from volunteering at parkrun

·         52% say it has helped improved their overall happiness

·         40% say it has helped improve their mental health

parkrun volunteers also find themselves feeling more connected to others and the local community:

·         81% of respondents say volunteering at parkrun has helped made them feel more connected to local community.

·         61% are motivated to volunteer as a way of supporting their local community

·         49% said it’s an opportunity to meet new people

As presenting partner of parkrun, Vhi are delighted to announce that this September and October, they will be visiting parkruns in Dublin, Galway and Wexford as part of the Vhi ‘More Than Running’ Roadshows.

Vhi ambassadors Aimee Connolly and David Gillick will be on hand as volunteers to experience the wellbeing benefits for themselves and to cheer parkrun participants every step of the way. Vhi is encouraging people to come along and join in the celebrations, participate as a walker, jogger or runner, and to find out more about how to volunteer at their local parkrun.

Matt Shields, parkrun Ireland Country Manager said: “The parkrun community is fuelled by our volunteer network, without which we couldn’t put on events up and down the country, week in, week out.  They deserve incredible recognition and we’re very pleased to see in this Vhi survey that they believe they get as much out of volunteering as they put in.”

Dr Lydia Mackeogh, National Clinical Psychology Lead, Vhi said: “At Vhi, our aim is to help our members live longer, stronger, healthier lives. To achieve this it’s vital to look after your mental wellbeing, as well as the physical. A sense of belonging and of feeling connected to others, cannot be underestimated in this regard, and the feedback from the parkrun community illustrates these benefits.”

Vhi ambassador Aimee Connolly commented “I’m proud to be a Vhi ambassador and to be involved in this year’s’ More than Running’ campaign. I’m a huge fan of parkrun, but my experience to date has been as a runner so I can’t wait to put on a high-vis vest and experience it as a volunteer!”

Vhi ambassador David Gillick said “From parkrun to the Olympics, no event works without a dedicated team of volunteers in place. I’ve been to parkruns up and down the country and at every single event I’ve met incredible people devoting their Saturday or Sunday morning to ensuring a great experience for participants. The wellbeing benefits outlined in Vhi’s survey happily show that volunteers get a great deal out of it too, and I’d encourage people to get in touch with their local parkrun and experience those benefits for themselves.”

parkrun in partnership with Vhi supports local communities in organising free, weekly, timed 5km runs every Saturday morning and 2km junior parkruns every Sunday at 140 venues all over Ireland, with around 12,000 people of every age and ability taking part each week. It is the biggest community-led physical activity movement in Ireland with more than 395,000 registered participants and 35,500 registered volunteers. The events are organised by volunteers every weekend from Bere Island to Ballina to Ballinteer. Over 395,350 registered participants have run more than 13 million kilometres at parkrun Ireland events since it started here in November 2012.

To register for a parkrun near you visit www.parkrun.ie. New registrants should select their chosen event as their home location. You will then receive a personal barcode which acts as your free entry to any parkrun event worldwide.

ENDS

Notes to the editor:

Research

A survey of 1123 parkrun participants took place between 9^th and 21^st August 2023.

For more information:

Vhi More Than Running Roadshow Locations:

9^th September – River Valley parkrun, Swords, Dublin, with Vhi ambassador Aimee Connolly

16^th September – Knocknacarra parkrun, Salthill, Galway, with Vhi ambassador Aimee Connolly

30^th September – Poolbeg parkrun, Irishtown, Dublin, with Vhi ambassador David Gillick

7^th October – Wexford Racecourse parkrun, Wexford, with Vhi ambassador David Gillick

Vhi today announced that it is to increase prices by an average of 7% with effect from 1st October 2023. The increase is driven by a significant increase in demand for healthcare following years of COVID related disruption together with high levels of healthcare inflation in Ireland and around the world. This follows a price increase in March this year, the first introduced by Vhi in two years. Vhi reduced prices by 3% in 2022 and returned €450 million in premium waivers to its members during (2020 to 2022) arising from the impact of COVID on the Healthcare system.  

A continuous increase in the numbers of members accessing healthcare as well as sustained increases in the costs associated with the delivery of healthcare are driving the need for a price increase.  Vhi has a responsibility to set premiums in a prudent and sustainable manner to ensure that Vhi can provide its members with access to excellent healthcare and meet those costs.  

Speaking about the increases in premium Aaron Keogh, Managing Director, Vhi Insurance Dac said: “We are conscious of the financial pressures that many of our members are facing however, the price increase is necessary to ensure that we continue to meet member’s healthcare needs. The pandemic brought significant impacts on healthcare delivery in Ireland but we have seen a strong recovery in the number of members accessing necessary healthcare treatments in all parts of the healthcare system through 2023. 

“As well as a sustained rise in the volume of claims, there have been significant increases in the costs associated with the delivery of healthcare due to upward pressure on wages, energy and other costs. This price increase is necessary to ensure that we continue to meet the healthcare needs of our customers, giving them access to new and innovative drugs, procedures, technologies and services as required to meet their medical needs now and into the future.”

He continued: “Vhi exists solely to meet the healthcare needs of our members and all premium income received is used solely for this purpose.  Any surplus generated is invested in improving the service experience and healthcare outcomes of our members.”

Healthcare in Ireland faces significant challenges into the future. Demographic challenges resulting from a growing and ageing population indicate a significant increase in chronic disease and mental health risk. Managing rising healthcare costs is an ongoing challenge and this has informed Vhi’s strategic approach to move beyond health insurance by providing a range of healthcare services directly to its members. Vhi has an extensive and growing healthcare footprint and in 2022 delivered over 523,000 healthcare interactions to its members.  Vhi offer members access to care in a variety of different settings in the community and there has been a rapid acceleration in the development of Vhi’s digital services to ensure that resources are used appropriately and efficiently.  Vhi is committed to continually innovating in how we deliver healthcare – specifically through the introduction of new services and new facilities such as our Vhi 360 Health Centres, digital and tele-health services, Vhi Hospital@Home, Vhi Health Screening facilities, Vhi Midwife Support Service and Vhi’s National Clinical Call Centre. 

ENDS 

• New service provides rapid access to care and treatment for skin conditions such as acne, lesions and melanomas within weeks
• Research from Vhi shows 1 in 4 adults in Ireland are currently concerned about the impact of sun damage on their skin
• 43% of those currently on waiting lists for dermatology services are waiting six months or more

23^rd August 2023 – Vhi today announced the launch of a new rapid access Dermatology service for the diagnosis and treatment of most dermatological conditions on an outpatient care basis.

Delivered in partnership with AllView Healthcare, Vhi’s Dermatology service provides end-to-end care for the diagnosis and treatment of medical dermatological conditions including common skin conditions such as acne, lesions, sun damage and melanoma - the most serious skin cancer.

With lengthy wait times for accessing dermatology services, Vhi’s new Dermatology service offers one of the fastest routes to medical dermatology treatment nationwide, with appointments available within ten days for Vhi members. Currently there are more 45,000 people awaiting a dermatology appointment in Ireland with 43% waiting for 6 months or more.[1]

By leveraging cutting-edge telehealth and digital technologies, Vhi Dermatology offers a new path to help meet the demand to treat serious skin conditions.  Currently every year in Ireland, over 1,000 new cases of melanoma are diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer the most common cancer in Ireland. By 2045, it is projected that the number of cases of melanoma diagnosed among males will nearly triple (177%) and among females will increase by 140%.[2]

New dermatology research commissioned by Vhi shows that 1 in 4 respondents are currently concerned about the impact of sun damage on their skin. Serious skin conditions also appear to be having a negative impact on people’s health and wellbeing. Close to half (47%) of those surveyed reported that they suffered stress and anxiety as a direct result of having a skin condition.

Dr Rupert Barry, Consultant Dermatologist and Clinical Lead for Vhi Dermatology Services said: “Over recent years, there has been a growing incidence of skin cancer and other skin conditions with an increasing number of patients requiring end-to-end care from diagnosis to surgical excision. This trend is only set to accelerate. That is resulting in considerable wait times for patients looking to access dermatology services in Ireland with 1 in 4 having to wait a year or more for treatment.

“The launch of the Vhi Dermatology service will help give patients access to the care they need, when they need it. By cutting lengthy waiting times, we can rapidly diagnose patients with skin cancer who may be currently waiting for an appointment with a dermatologist and treat patients with skin conditions as quickly as possible.

“Tackling long wait lists and providing timely access to care will be pivotal to ensure the long-term health and wellbeing of the population. By providing appointments to patients within days our service provides a faster and more effective approach to the management of skin conditions.”

Teledermatology appointments are available for Vhi members nationwide at AllView Healthcare Clinics and use specialist imaging equipment to record a series of high definition microscopic and macroscopic images of the skin complaint.

Following an initial appointment, AllView’s network of dermatology consultants deliver a diagnosis and treatment plan to manage conditions quickly and effectively. If surgery, biopsy or a face-to-face appointment is subsequently required, the AllView Healthcare GP will explain this to the patient and give them the fast access option of attending the Vhi Dermatology Clinic at Vhi 360 Health Centre, in Carrickmines, County Dublin.

Commenting on the opening of services, Eoin O’Reilly, CEO of AllView Healthcare said: “With demand growing for dermatology services across the country we’re proud to partner with Vhi to support comprehensive access for Vhi members to better dermatology care and treatment. The new service will provide an unparalleled patient experience and help provide peace of mind to patients.

“By joining forces, Vhi and AllView Healthcare can provide the fastest route to dermatology treatment in Ireland, delivering appointments, accurate diagnoses, and treatment plans to patients within days, rather than months.”

The Vhi Dermatology Service is one of a number of new services brought by Vhi to its members in recent times as it continues to innovate in the delivery of healthcare – specifically through the introduction of new facilities and services such as Vhi Women’s Health Clinic, Vhi Paediatric Clinic, Vhi Sports, Exercise and Musculoskeletal Medicine Clinic in Vhi 360 Health Centres, digital and tele-health services, Vhi Hospital@Home, Vhi Health Screening, Vhi Midwife Support Service and Vhi’s National Clinical Call Centre.

For more information on Vhi’s Dermatology services, please visit: https://www1.vhi.ie/360health/dermatology

[1] The National Treatment Purchase Fund; Outpatient by Speciality as at 27/07/2023’, 2023: https://www.ntpf.ie/home/pdf//2023/07/nationalnumbers/out-patient/National02.pdf

[2] National Skin Cancer Prevention Plan 2023-2026: https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/250831/096f02fe-72d5-4f7f-9849-f9518d55f4c2.pdf#page=null

Vhi to extend its sponsorship of the event for a further three years

Sunday 4^th June 2023:  Over 20,000 women took to the streets of Dublin today, taking part in the 2023 Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon.   This was the 41^st year of the event, which since its inception has raised over €226 million for charities in Ireland.

The 2023 Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon was won by Nakita Burke from Letterkenny A.C. in a time of 34:27. Courtney McGuire from Clonmel A.C. was second across the finish line in 34:33, and Teresa Doherty from Finisk Valley A.C. placed third in 34:58..

Shauna Bocquet from Craughwell, Galway won the Elite Wheelchair Category in a time of 26:59.

Title sponsors Vhi also announced that they have extended their title sponsorship of the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon for a further three years. The extension marks the continuation of a successful partnership that began in 2014 and has seen hundreds of thousands of women participate in the event, raising millions for charities nationwide and supporting women in their pursuit of health and fitness goals in the process.

Women from all over Ireland took part in the 2023 Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon, with many taking part to support and fundraise for charitable causes.  This annual celebration of women is a truly inclusive event, embracing women of all ages and fitness levels.  This year’s event included women aged from 14 to 93!

David O’Leary, General Manager of the Women’s Mini Marathon said:

“Congratulations to the many thousands of women who took to the streets of Dublin today.  There’s no other event like the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon; the sense of celebration and camaraderie, the emotion, the laughter and the fun atmosphere all make the day so special.  We’re proud to be able to produce an event which means so much to all women.

I’d like to thank the hundreds of volunteers who each year give so generously of their time to help make this event happen, as well as the community groups and charities who continue to support the event year after year.  And of course, I’d like to thank the women of Ireland for coming out in their thousands!  I would particularly like to mention our wonderful sponsors, and in particular our title sponsors Vhi.  We’re delighted to be able to announce the extension of our partnership for the next three years and look forward to continuing to work with them to deliver many more years of the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon”.

Brian Walsh, Chief Executive, Vhi Group said:

“Vhi is very proud to partner with the Women’s Mini Marathon, it’s a brilliant way for us to live our purpose of helping our customers to live longer, stronger, healthier lives, and we’re delighted to announce today that we have renewed our sponsorship for a further three years. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the Women’s Mini Marathon team to deliver more fantastic events. I want to extend our congratulations to the thousands of women that crossed the finish line today. The atmosphere and sense of camaraderie amongst participants is phenomenal.”

Speaking at the event, Lord Mayor Dublin, Caroline Conroy said: 

“As the Lord Mayor of Dublin, it gives me great pleasure to be part of this truly amazing event, which celebrates tens of thousands of women coming together.  Dublin city is proud to have played host to this event for the last 41 years, and I hope that it continues to play a part in our city’s life for many more”.

98FM’s Dame Stuffy got the day off to a great start, entertaining the crowds at the 98FM stage in the Start Area, while Vhi ambassador David Gillick and Intersport Elverys ambassador Aisling Sheridan (Cavan Senior Ladies GAA player) got everyone ready with some energetic warm-up sessions.  There was entertainment on show every step of the way around the 10km course, with live music and DJs; the 98FM Thunderbus on Belfield Bridge; the popular Smash Hits band at the Vhi stage at Nutley Lane; and the Vhi cheer squad at the Last KM. 

Every woman received a 2023 commemorative medal when they crossed the finish line at the event.  Leanne Hanafin of 98FM was also on hand to provide entertainment at the finish line.  Event partners the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists hosted a Cool Down Stage at Merrion Square, along with offering complimentary treatments. 

Preparations for the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon starts early in September each year, with a team dedicated to ensuring that they deliver a fun and memorable day out for all the participants.  They are assisted on Race Day by 900 stewards from various sports clubs and scouting groups.

A full listing of the results will be published in a special supplement in the Irish Independent on Monday, June 5^th. 

ENDS

Fund seeks to support young people’s health and wellbeing

Over 200,000 young people impacted to date

19^th April 2023 – Vhi today launched the third consecutive year of the Vhi Health & Wellbeing Fund. Established in 2020 in partnership with the Irish Youth Foundation (IYF), the Fund is dedicated to supporting young people’s health and wellbeing.

The Vhi Health & Wellbeing Fund aims to support projects that are seeking to strengthen resilience in young people and help them manage anxiety. In the last two years, 22 youth focused organisations have been awarded grants and to date more than 4,000 young people have been directly impacted through the Fund, with just under 200,000 young people indirectly benefitting from the initiative.

The emphasis this year continues to be on supporting programmes focused on early intervention and prevention for young people. It is open to applications from non-profit and charitable organisations who work directly with young people or with adults who surround them. Grants of €5K and €10K will be available through the Fund.

In addition to making funding available, Vhi are introducing a pilot programme for youth leaders focusing on trauma informed care and worker wellbeing. This programme is being specifically developed by Vhi health experts to support youth leaders in their work with young people.

Speaking at the launch, Brian Walsh, CEO, Vhi Group said: “At Vhi, our purpose is to help our customers live longer, stronger, healthier lives but we also want to help our local communities too. That’s why we’re delighted to launch the third consecutive year of the Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund. Its impact to date has been truly inspiring with every young person supported by the Fund over the last two years gaining the opportunity to better understand how to manage their own health and wellbeing while also developing skills to help them navigate feelings of anxiety when they face them. I’d encourage all eligible organisations to apply for the fund.

He continued “In view of the evolving needs of the community and voluntary sector, we are broadening the scope of the Vhi Health & Wellbeing Fund this year and introducing a pilot programme for youth leaders specifically. We want to provide them with access to trauma-based training so that they can be better equipped to support the young people they’re working with and help them manage the challenging situations they can be faced with.”

Lucy Masterson, CEO, Irish Youth Foundation, said: “IYF are committed to prioritising health and wellbeing programmes for young people, and so we are delighted that partnering with Vhi has given us another avenue to reach young people and to support them to improve their resilience and manage anxiety.

“From a TikTok campaign highlighting mental health services that reached over 180,000 young people to a specific programme to help manage the anxiety of young people living in direct provision, the impact of the winning projects over the last year has been inspiring. I look forward to seeing similar results with this year’s Fund and would encourage all organisations working in the youth sector to apply.”

The Vhi Health & Wellbeing Fund is open to not-for-project or charitable organisations that are seeking to deliver projects dedicated to supporting the resilience of young people aged 12-25 years old in the six locations where Vhi have operations - Cork, Dublin, Donegal, Galway, Kilkenny and Limerick.

For more information, or to make an application, visit www.iyf.ie/grants.

ENDS/

parkrun in partnership with Vhi, to host a “Bring a Buddy” day with Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon Ambassadors this Saturday, 22^nd April

18^th April 2023 - Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon ambassadors will lace up their runners at parkrun this Saturday morning as part of Vhi’s ‘Bring a Buddy’ Day, which encourages women across the country to grab a friend and walk, jog or run the 5k route as part of their preparation for race day on Sunday June 4^th.

Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon ambassadors Aimee Connolly and Emer Kelly are encouraging women to join them in bringing a friend to St Anne’s Park, Clontarf this Saturday morning. Businesswoman Aimee and Tik Tok star Emer will be joined by Vhi ambassador and Olympian David Gillick who will lead a warm-up session for participants on what promises to be a fun-filled morning featuring a Lucky Dip, competitions and other fun activities for those in attendance.

The Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon, now in its 41^st year, will take place on Bank Holiday Sunday 4^th June 2023 at the earlier time of 12.30pm. The 2023 event will be a celebration of togetherness, and whether you participate with friends, family or by yourself, you’ll be part of a special community. It’s open to all those who wish to walk, jog or run the 10km route through Dublin City Centre. 

Vhi customers who have paid the €30 entry fee for the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon can claim their entry fee back by using Snap & Send in the Vhi app. Vhi customers can ‘snap’ a photo of their registration fee receipt and ‘send’ it via the simple Snap & Send process. The free Vhi App can be downloaded via the app store.

Looking ahead to Saturday, Aimee Connolly said: “With just over 6 weeks to go until the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon, Vhi’s ‘Bring a Buddy’ day is the perfect opportunity for women nationwide to round up some friends and experience a 5k in the friendly surrounds of their local parkrun. I’m really looking forward to taking part at St Anne’s parkrun on Saturday morning and hoping to see plenty of women there to walk, jog or run the 5k course with me.”

parkrun in partnership with Vhi, supports local communities in organising free, weekly, timed 5km runs every Saturday morning at over 100 venues all over Ireland, with people of every age and ability taking part each week. To register for a parkrun near you visit www.parkrun.ie. New registrants should select their chosen event as their home location. You will then receive a personal barcode which acts as your free entry to any parkrun event worldwide. Vhi Members can earn Vhi parkrun Rewards on the Vhi App when they link their parkrun account to their Vhi app.

Registration for the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon is now open on www.vhiwomensminimarathon.ie.

For further information visit www.vhiwomensminimarathon.ie or follow Vhi WMM on social media.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/vhiwomensminimarathon

Instagram: @vhiwmm

Twitter: @VhiWMM

Membership grows for Eighth year in a Row

Over 500,000 healthcare interactions with Vhi Health & Wellbeing Services in 2022

Wednesday 12^th April 2023: Vhi Group today announced its annual results for the year ending 31^st December 2022. For the year reported, Vhi delivered a strong financial performance despite the impact of the ongoing pandemic, the economic consequences of the war in Ukraine, and the cost of living crisis. For the eighth consecutive year there was an increase in the number of people choosing Vhi as their healthcare partner.

Vhi Group achieved strong growth in demand for its private medical insurance offering with 23,400 additional health insurance customers choosing Vhi, bringing total membership to 1,177,600 at year end. Gross earned premium for private health insurance in 2022 was €1.6 billion up from €1.589 billion in 2021 driven by this increase in members.

Total claims paid in 2022 amounted to €1.425 billion, representing an increase of 10% on 2021.The cost of meeting customers’ healthcare needs increased in the second half of the year as demand for healthcare services returned to pre-pandemic levels. There was also an increase in the costs associated with the delivery of healthcare due to increases in wage, energy and other costs, including infection control.

Vhi achieved a net surplus of €34.3 million from consolidated business activities. This was lower than the previous year, when a net surplus of €65.3 million was achieved. This variance was due to the increase in claims volumes and costs, the reduction in market values of Vhi’s investment portfolio, and increased operating costs as Vhi invests in healthcare and technology.

Income from Vhi’s other insurance products and services including Vhi MultiTrip, Vhi Dental, Vhi International and Vhi Life grew substantially, amounting to €37.8 million, an increase on the €26.2 million recorded in 2021. Ireland’s emergence from Covid-19 restrictions helped drive growth, with Vhi’s MultiTrip’s insurance offering, in particular, recording a steep recovery in demand and closing out the year with over 327,000 customers.

Key financial results for the year ending 31 December 2022 included:

• Gross earned premium for private health insurance in 2022 came to €1.6 billion. This was up  from €1.589 billion in 2021
• Private Health Insurance membership grew this year by 23,400 to total 1,177,600 members by 31^st of December
• After tax results showed a net surplus of €34.3 million from consolidated business activities, compared with €65.3 million in 2021
• Claims paid increased by 10% to €1.425 billion, compared to €1.295 billion in 2021
• Vhi ended 2022 with free reserves of €949 million, compared with €859 million in 2021.

In line with the promise to customers that Vhi would return value to customers if claims were lower than anticipated, a third premium waiver was made to customers in March 2022, reflecting reduced access to healthcare and services.  In total, over the course of the global pandemic, Vhi returned €450 million to customers.

There were over half a million healthcare interactions with Vhi Health & Wellbeing services in 2022 up 39% on the previous year. Vhi continued to grow their clinical team offering,  launching  Vhi Midwife Support Service, Women’s Health Clinic, Positive Minds Programme, 360 Health Coaching Programme, Sports, Exercise and Musculoskeletal Clinic and  Developmental Paediatric Services. Vhi also enhanced the digital Online Health Team and grew the telehealth offering, providing a nationwide proposition.  

Activity across Vhi Urgent Care centres increased with over 130,000 interactions, up 32% on the previous year.  In February 2022, Vhi launched its 5,000sqm flagship Vhi 360 Health Centre in Carrickmines, significantly increasing its clinical reach. A new Radiology service the Vhi 360 Health Centre includes x-ray, MRI, Dexa and ultrasound services and facilitated diagnostic treatment for 5,730 customers in the ten months it operated in 2022. Last year also saw the opening of Vhi 360 Screening Centre and Physiotherapy Clinics in Balally, Dundrum.

Commenting on the results, Brian Walsh, Vhi Group CEO said: “At Vhi, we are committed to helping our customers live longer, stronger, healthier lives and this will be achieved by investing in the development of a unique integrated healthcare model. Our financial strength underpins our ability to deliver on this and these results show that our business continues to perform well.

“Overall in 2022 there was an increase in claims volumes, a welcome development as it means our customers are now better able to access healthcare services to meet their needs on a timely basis, following the challenges of the previous two years. Vhi exists solely to meet the healthcare needs of our customers and all premium income received is dedicated to delivering and meeting the healthcare needs of our customers and patients.”

“Costs and affordability are a constant priority for Vhi. We believe it is essential that people in Ireland can continue to purchase affordable health cover irrespective of their age, health profile or previous claims history. We will play our part in making sure that this is a reality, continuing to support people in sickness and pivoting to support people in health maintenance and preventative healthcare. We remain focused on living up to our responsibility to ensure we have a sustainable business that plays its part in the achievement of a sustainable world.”

Ends

The Board of Vhi is pleased to announce that Brian Walsh has been appointed Group CEO of Vhi. Brian joined Vhi in November 2014 as Chief Financial Officer and has been a Board Director since 2015. He was appointed interim Group CEO of Vhi in May 2022.

Greg Sparks Chairperson Designate of the Voluntary Health Insurance Board said “The Board is delighted to announce the appointment of Brian Walsh as Group CEO. Brian has been a key member of the leadership team in Vhi for the last 8 years and has played a significant role in Vhi’s continued success.  

“Vhi has a compelling purpose, helping customers live longer, stronger, healthier lives and an ambitious strategy that will help to ensure it delivers on that purpose. Brian has been central to the development and implementation of that strategy in recent years and we are certain that he will continue to ensure Vhi delivers on its goals in the future.  The Board has every confidence that Brian, with his broad leadership and wide ranging experience, will continue to steer Vhi in the right direction so that Vhi can continue to meet the growing and broadening healthcare needs of our customers."  

Following his appointment as Vhi Group CEO, Brian Walsh said: “I am honored to be appointed Group CEO of Vhi.  Vhi is one of Ireland’s best known and most trusted brands for over 65 years and I am very aware of the responsibilities that come with this trust. We have moved well beyond offering a value proposition in health insurance: our vision is to be a healthcare partner to our more than 1.2 million customers and patients.  Vhi has performed strongly over recent years; we have increased private medical insurance membership, doubled our dental membership and rebuilt our travel insurance business post-Covid. Vhi continues to innovate in the Irish healthcare market, investing significantly in new and exclusive healthcare services through our Vhi360, Swiftcare and Hospital@Home platforms, including our flagship Vhi360 Health Centre in Carrickmines Co Dublin, opened in 2022.  

“My commitment is to support our team of talented people so that we can collectively continue to focus on delivering excellent value and service for our customers and patients, driving innovation in how healthcare and wellbeing services are accessed, and transforming how we do business to support our customer’s and patients to live longer, stronger and healthier lives.”

ENDS

Media Contact

Brighid Smyth

Head of Corporate Communications, Vhi Group, 086 827 0905

• The 41^st edition takes place on Bank Holiday Sunday 4^th June in Dublin City Centre
• Vhi survey on Irish women’s walking and running habits and motivations finds:
  
• Over half of Irish women (52%) reduce or stop walking or running activity during their period
• 57% of those experiencing menopausal symptoms say walking or running helps overcome these symptoms
• 77% believe signing up to a mass participation event with friends or family would help them with achieving their walking or running goals.

Register now on www.vhiwomensminimarathon.ie

13^th March 2023 - Businesswoman and Vhi ambassador Aimee Connolly today launched the 2023 Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon at Vhi Offices, Dublin. The 10k event, now in its 41^st year, will take place on Bank Holiday Sunday June 4^th at an earlier start time of 12:30pm. The event is open to all those who wish to walk, jog or run the 10km route through Dublin City Centre.  

To mark the launch of this year’s Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon, Vhi commissioned a body of research with 500 women who either walk or run to get a better understanding of Irish women’s running and walking habits. The key findings of this research are:

• 43% of Irish women said they walk and run as normal while on their period
  
• 37% said they reduce their activity while on their period
•  15% said they stop their fitness activity while on their period
•  Reasons given by those who stop walking or running were feeling fatigued (63%), lacking motivation (38%), feeling bloated or conscious they may leak (both 33%).
•  57% of women experiencing menopausal symptoms said that walking or running helps them to overcome these symptoms

The 2023 Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon will be a celebration of togetherness, and whether you participate with friends, family or by yourself, you’ll be part of a special community. 77% of Irish women who walk or run believe signing up to a mass participation event with friends or family would help them with achieving their walking or running goal.

The research also found that 74% of walkers and runners prefer to undertake their activity with friends or family. The main reasons cited were:

• As a source of motivation (60%)
• To provide company and conversation (57%)
• To provide encouragement (43%)
• To feel safe (40%)

To help women across Ireland prepare for the event, Vhi has teamed up with Aimee Connolly, along with other inspirational partners to help you prepare for the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon in a manageable way. Between now and June 4th, follow @VhiWMM on social or visit vhiwomensminimarathon.ie for training plans tailored to all fitness levels, nutrition support and much more.

Registration for the event is now open on www.vhiwomensminimarathon.ie. Every participant will receive a Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon finishers medal, and the first 10,000 participants who opt in when registering will receive a Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon t-shirt. Further to that, Vhi customers can claim back the event entry fee via the Vhi app.

David O’Leary, General Manager, Women’s Mini Marathon, commented:  “We are delighted to bring the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon to the streets of Dublin city for the 41^st time this year.  Not only is the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon an annual celebration of women coming together for fun, fitness and fundraising, the event also plays an important role in promoting the health and wellbeing of women all over Ireland and beyond; something that is backed up by the findings of the consumer research conducted by our title sponsors Vhi. We look forward to welcoming 25,000 women into the city this June Bank Holiday weekend.”

Brighid Smyth, Head of Corporate Communications in Vhi said, “Vhi are proud to be the title sponsor of the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon, an event that is part of the fabric of Irish society. This event is a celebration of women and everyone has different reasons for taking part whether its fitness related, to raise funds for a cause or to enjoy a day out with family and friends. Whatever the reason, joining 25,000 women on the streets of Dublin in the biggest event of its kind, is very powerful. In Vhi we are committed to helping people live longer, stronger, healthier lives and our partnership with the Women’s Mini Marathon helps us to deliver this.

Aimee Connolly, entrepreneur and Vhi Ambassador said, “I'm really excited to be working with Vhi this year again for the Vhi Women's Mini Marathon. It was such an incredible shared experience last year as part of a community of thousands of other women walking, jogging and running through the streets of Dublin. Vhi has teamed up with some brilliant women to provide inspiration over the next 12 weeks to race day, so whether you're looking for recipe ideas, training routines or just to hear the story of someone else on the journey to June 4th, stay tuned to Vhi Women's Mini Marathon social media channels! I am really looking forward to participating in this event alongside some really inspiring and wonderful women this year. ”

ENDS

Notes to the Editor:

*Research with 500 female runners and walkers of all ages conducted by 3Gem on behalf of Vhi between Monday 27^th February and Monday 7^th March 2023.

About Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon

The Vhi Women's Mini Marathon is now in its 41^st year. The first Women’s Mini Marathon began in Dublin in 1983 with 9,000 entrants, it has grown in popularity and the event now hosts 25,000 women on the June bank holiday weekend. Women from across the 32 counties of Ireland, U.K. and Europe take part each year to raise vital funds for their chosen charities and causes. 

The Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon is a world-class sporting event and is dedicated to helping women across Ireland to achieve their fitness goals. The Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon has become an important part of Irish culture and a celebration for Irish women aged 14 and over. The event caters for women who wish to walk or jog for fun while also catering for competitive runners. It is not only women who have benefited from the event, but charities are also the big winners.  The Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon is the single biggest charity fundraising event in Ireland. An estimated €226m has been raised for charity since its beginning in 1983. All charities benefit as it is the women themselves who decide who they will support, and many local causes gain vital revenue from the event. 

Ahead of Blue Monday, Vhi is asking people to experience the mental and physical health benefits of parkrun for themselves!

January 12^th, 2023: With Blue Monday, known as the most depressing day of the year, occurring next week, Vhi is encouraging the Irish public to start the year off on the right foot, by giving parkrun a try in order to experience both the mental and physical benefits participation can bring. Vhi as the presenting partner of parkrun Ireland for the past seven years, is calling on people to visit their local parkrun this weekend. Whether you participate in parkrun as a walker, jogger, runner or a volunteer, research shows that it can have a positive impact on your health.

A previous survey by parkrun in association with Vhi outlined the mental and physical health benefits that can be gained from parkrun participation. Key findings included:

• More than 90% of parkrunners reported a sense of personal achievement and improvements in physical health.
• 83% reported improvements to their mental health
• 85% stated that participation in parkrun improved their levels of happiness.*

Vhi 360 Health Centres have also recently signed up to the ‘parkrun practice’ initiative which was set up by parkrun Ireland in collaboration with the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) to encourage GP practices across Ireland to develop close links with their local parkrun, and encourage patients and carers to take part in their local parkrun to help build local communities centred on wellness.  Vhi 360 Health Centres in Carrickmines, Swords, Dundrum, Limerick, Cork and Galway plan to become ‘parkrun practices’ in the coming months.

Involvement in this initiative will enable Vhi clinical professionals to credibly promote the mental and physical health benefits of participation and volunteering at these local 5km parkrun events. Encouraging participation in events such as parkrun which can have such positive effects on mental and physical health can sometimes help reduce the need for lifelong medication.**

parkrun in partnership with Vhi, takes place every Saturday morning at 9.30am in more than 100 locations across the country and is free to take part in. In Ireland, more than 10,000 people take part in these events every weekend, as walkers, joggers, runners and volunteers. These events are open to everyone and last year parkwalk was launched as part of the weekly events. Participants only need to register once on the parkrun website, bring their personal barcode which records their activity, and then turn up at their local event.

Dr Suzi Clarke, Consultant Sports & Exercise Medicine Physician at Vhi 360 Health Centre, Carrickmines said,  “At Vhi we are committed to helping our customers and patients live longer, stronger, healthier lives. The ethos of Vhi 360 Health Centres is to support the promotion of a healthy and active lifestyle to support overall wellbeing. Participation in events like parkrun can help to increase wellness in the local community and we believe that the ‘parkrun practice’ initiative will help people across the country discover parkrun and the health benefits that it can bring.”

Matt Shields, parkrun Ireland Country Manager said: “We all know how hard it is to follow through with New Year’s resolutions, but the beauty of parkrun is the support you get as part of a community. Whether you start off walking, jogging, running or as one of our incredible volunteers, we’re certain that you will reap the mental and physical health benefits that parkrun has already provided to thousands of people across the country.”

Vhi ambassador David Gillick said, “parkrun is an excellent way to get back to physical activity after Christmas, and with  Blue Monday just around the corner we could all do with the mental and physical lift that parkrun can bring! Once you have experienced the warm welcome, you’ll receive at your first event you’re sure to want to come back for more, meaning those good intentions made in the New Year have a great chance of lasting beyond January.”

To register for a parkrun near you visit www.parkrun.ie.

ENDS

Notes to the editor:

*Research was undertaken in 2019 by Sheffield Hallam University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC). The research was commissioned to assess the health and wellbeing benefits of participating in the free, weekly, timed 5k events

** Source – RCGP parkrun practice website

parkrun Ireland supports local communities in organising free, weekly, timed 5k events every Saturday morning and 2k events for juniors every Sunday morning, at more than 130 venues all over Ireland, with around 10,000 people of every age and ability taking part each week. The events are supported by more than 1,500 volunteers every weekend from Bere Island to Ballina to Ballinteer. Over 364,000 people have registered with parkrun Ireland since it started here in November 2012. Originally launched in the UK in 2004, parkrun events now take place in more than 20 countries, with more than eight million registrants .

First price increase by Vhi in two years following a price reduction in 2022 and the return of €450m in premium waivers over the last three years

26th January 2023: Vhi today announced that it will increase premiums by an average of 4.8% across its health insurance plans from 1st March 2023. The increase is due to the increased demand for healthcare and the rising costs of providing healthcare to customers. The price increase is necessary to ensure that Vhi can continue to meet the costs of providing healthcare to its customers in 2023 and beyond. This is the first price increase in two years, following a price reduction in 2022 and the return of €450m in premium waivers to customers over the past three years.

The cost of meeting customers’ healthcare needs has increased significantly in the last twelve months as demand for healthcare services returns to pre-pandemic levels. This trend also reflects pent-up demand for healthcare services resulting from periods of reduced access to services over the last two years. In parallel, there has been a significant increase in the costs associated with the delivery of healthcare due to increases in wage, energy and other costs, including infection control. Many of these supply cost pressures are amplified by world events, impacting all sectors and all industries.  

Commenting on the price increase, Mr Aaron Keogh, MD, Vhi Insurance DAC said “We understand that our customers are already dealing with the pressure of rising costs across the economy and we have made every effort to keep the price increase as low as possible. However, because of these cost pressures, the price increase is necessary.  This is to ensure that we continue to meet the healthcare needs of our customers, giving them access to new and innovative drugs, procedures, technologies and services as required to meet their medical needs now and into the future.”

He concluded: “Vhi exists solely to meet the healthcare needs of our customers and all premium income received is dedicated to delivering and meeting the healthcare needs of our customers and patients. Any surplus generated is invested in improving services, expanding the care that we deliver or is returned as value to our customers. We continue to focus on managing costs and managing efficiencies in our business in order to keep prices affordable.  In addition, we offer our customers options to access care in a variety of different settings in the community and there has been a rapid acceleration in the development of our digital services. Last year there were close to half a million healthcare interactions with Vhi’s Health & Wellbeing services. We are committed to ensuring that we can continue to innovate in how we deliver healthcare – specifically through the introduction of new services and new facilities such as our Vhi 360 Health Clinics, digital and tele-health services, Hospital@Home, Vhi Health Screening facilities, Vhi Midwife Support Service and Vhi’s National Clinical Call Centre.”

ENDS

Issued by:

Brighid Smyth / Niamh Walker                               

Vhi Group Services DAC

Ph: 01 6147348 / 01 887 1825                    

M: 086 8270905 / 086 608 6764

Editors Notes

Examples of Price Changes

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