Is this a replacement for NHS or Private care?

No. The service works alongside NHS or private treatment and is designed to support treatment, not replace it.

Our employees already have private medical insurance. Do they still need this support?

Private medical insurance covers diagnosis and treatment, but it does not typically provide structured clinical guidance throughout recovery. Specialist Cancer Care works alongside NHS or private treatment, offering dedicated nurse support, coordination of care and management of treatment impact to help employees navigate recovery with confidence.

When can employees access the service?

Access begins following a cancer diagnosis under a Group Critical Illness policy, at the point a claim is made. Access is not tied to the timing of a claim payout and can begin whenever support would be most helpful, within 12 months of submitting a claim.

How do employees access the service?

<div class="SCXW260088314 BCX8"> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW260088314 BCX8"> Employees or an eligible loved one* will need to opt-in to the service when completing Part B of the Personal Statement form. Within two working days of receiving the referral Perci Health will send them an email with a secure link to access the platform. Employees will need to click the link in the email to set up their account. They'll be asked to provide some basic personal details and create a password to activate secure access. When they're in the platform, they'll be asked to complete a short questionnaire providing their GP's details and information about their diagnosis, treatment and current health, helping the Cancer Nurse Specialist understand their situation and tailor the support. </div> </div>

How is the service delivered?

Support is delivered through scheduled video or telephone appointments with experienced cancer specialists, with secure messaging available between appointments.

What types of support are available?

Support includes one-to-one guidance from a dedicated Cancer Nurse Specialist, help understanding diagnosis and treatment plans, preparation for hospital appointments, management of side effects, emotional and practical support, and structured guidance through recovery and return to work, where appropriate. Where clinically appropriate, employees may also access up to three additional sessions with a team of specialist cancer clinicians such as physiotherapists, dietitians, psychologists, menopause specialists and pain clinicians to support rehabilitation and symptom management.

When is support available?

Cancer Nurse Specialists provide virtual appointments Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm. Specialist cancer clinicians offer virtual appointments seven days a week between 8am and 7pm. Secure messages can be left for the dedicated nurse at any time, with messages reviewed and responded to during working hours.

How many specialist clinician sessions are included?

Employees can access up to three virtual specialist cancer clinician sessions, where clinically appropriate, as part of the service. The dedicated Cancer Nurse Specialist will assess individual needs and recommend the most suitable specialist support.

Do employees have to pay for the three additional sessions with the specialist cancer clinicians?

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW100215113 BCX8"> No, these are included at no cost. </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW100215113 BCX8"> If additional specialist input is required beyond the included sessions, further sessions can be arranged for a fee, chargeable to the employee directly. </div>

How long can employees access the service?

Employees can access Specialist Cancer Care for up to 12 months from the point support begins, ensuring structured guidance throughout diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

What if a cancer claim is not paid?

Employees or an eligible loved one* can access the service whether the claim is accepted or not.

How is this different from a general nurse helpline?

Employees are supported by dedicated Cancer Nurse Specialists with extensive cancer specific experience, alongside access to specialist cancer clinicians where needed. The service provides structured clinical guidance throughout treatment and recovery.

Is the provider regulated?

Yes. Perci Health is CQC registered and has investment from Macmillan Cancer Support as part of its investment in innovating cancer care.

Does this create additional work for HR?

No. The service is accessed directly by the employee and delivered independently of the employer.

Is there any cost to employees?

No, the core 12-month service, including dedicated Cancer Nurse Specialist support and up to three specialist clinician sessions where clinically appropriate, is included as part of the Group Critical Illness cover.

What happens after the 12-month period ends?

Employees will continue to have ongoing access to the secure digital platform, including their personalised care plan, appointment summaries, tailored content and clinically validated guidance, so they can refer back to their information and support whenever they need. Before the end of the 12-month period, their dedicated Cancer Nurse Specialist will discuss available options with them if they would like to continue receiving support beyond this time on a self-pay basis, so they can decide what feels right for them.

Is the service confidential?

Yes. The service is fully confidential. No personal clinical information is shared with the employer without the employee’s explicit consent.

Critical Illness Care

Specialist Cancer Care and Personal Nurse Service

Cancer is affecting the workforce more than ever and more people are being diagnosed during working ages. Survival rates are improving, but this means more people are living with complex, long-term treatment impacts and side effects. For many people, cancer is becoming a life-changing condition that effects every aspect of someone's life and requires ongoing support beyond treatment. Through our Group Critical Illness cover, employees diagnosed with cancer, or an eligible loved one*, have access to Specialist Cancer Care, delivered by Perci Health, a CQC registered virtual cancer clinic and MacMillan Cancer Support partner.

This service is clinically governed and specialist-led, providing in-depth specialist cancer care that fits around existing treatment pathways, helping employees manage the wider impact of cancer.

All care is personalised to individual needs and circumstances. The service is confidential and provided as part of our Group Critical Illness cover, at no extra cost, and available for up to 12 months from the point support begins.

How it works

What will employees receive?

A dedicated Cancer Nurse Specialist who provides ongoing one-to-one support from diagnosis, through treatment and beyond
Up to three additional sessions with a team of specialist cancer clinicians, tailored to their individual needs
Access to a secure digital platform providing personalised, clinically validated guidance in one place

Together these provide specialist support around the whole cancer experience, not just the disease itself.

Dedicated Cancer Nurse Specialist

Employees will be allocated a dedicated Cancer Nurse Specialist from Perci Health who will support them from diagnosis, through treatment and beyond.

They'll speak to the same nurse each time, with each nurse taking the time to understand them, their medical history and treatment plan, so they don't need to repeat their story at every appointment.

The Cancer Nurse Specialist understands cancer treatment pathways, common side effects and the emotional impact of diagnosis. They provide steady, ongoing guidance as needs change.

Support is delivered through virtual appointments by video or telephone, at a time convenient for the employee. Employees can also leave secure messages between appointments if questions, thoughts or concerns arise. Messages are reviewed and responded to during working hours.

The nurse provides:

A clear explanation of diagnosis and treatment plans
Support preparing for hospital appointments
Help understanding consultant letters and results
Support managing side effects such as fatigue, neuropathy or pain
Emotional reassurance and practical guidance
Structured support for recovery and return to work

Access to a team of specialist cancer clinicians

Recovery rarely ends when hospital treatment finishes. Many people continue to experience fatigue, neuropathy, cognitive changes, emotional adjustment challenges and other long-term effects that impact daily life and work participation.

Where more complex needs arise, the Cancer Nurse Specialist can coordinate access to a dedicated team of over 20 specialist cancer clinicians who support employees with complex side effects. This may include physiotherapy, dietetic support, psychological support, menopause expertise and pain or neuropathy management, as part of a broader oncology specialist network tailored to individual needs.

This coordinated, cancer-specific clinical input complements NHS, or private treatment, helping manage complex side effects earlier, strengthen rehabilitation and support a safer, more confident return to work, where appropriate.

Seamless digital experience

The service is delivered through Perci Health's secure, oncology-specific digital platform that connects employees and clinicians through one coordinated system. It's designed to enhance care, reduce repetition and ensure employees don't have to retell their story at every stage.

Connecting employees and clinicians through one coordinated system:

One shared electronic health record - everything the care team needs in one place, so nothing gets missed

Personalised step-by-step guidance through treatment and recovery - know what to do and what to expect at every stage

Quick, secure access to the care team - message between appointments for questions or reassurance

Fully coordinated care - the dedicated nurse aligns all clinicians to reduce repetition and mixed advice
Easy access to notes, care plans and trusted information in one pace - helping employees stay informed and in control

This flexible access makes it easier for employees to receive specialist care when they need it, fitting around treatment schedules, family responsibilities and work commitments.

Always-on digital support

Through the secure digital platform, employees also have access to a tailored, clinically-validated content library delivered in bite sized chunks. This practical self-guided support is designed to help employees navigate treatment and recovery with confidence between appointments.

This includes personalised resources aligned to their diagnosis and care plan, evidence-based information about managing common side effects, guidance on emotional wellbeing, work and daily life, and tools to help them prepare for consultations and track progress.

The platform is available at any time, providing reliable, clinically informed support alongside their wider specialist clinical team, so support remains accessible whenever it is needed.

Personalised care plan

The Cancer Nurse Specialist will work with employees to create a personalised care plan. This plan is structured around their diagnosis, treatment pathway, current symptoms and the psychological, physical and social impacts they have identified, alongside their personal priorities, including work, family responsibilities and longer-term recovery goals.

It provides structure throughout their support, helping them prepare for key treatment milestones, manage the impact of treatment and monitor their progress.

The care plan is reviewed regularly and adapted as needs change, ensuring support remains relevant and tailored throughout their treatment and recovery.

How to access Specialist Cancer Care

This is an opt-in service from the point of claim for a cancer diagnosis. Employees will need to tick the box in part B of the personal statement form to opt into the service.

Perci Health will send an email to the employee within two working days of receiving their referral from Canada Life, with a secure link to access the platform where they can create a secure account and get started.

In some circumstances, it's more appropriate for a family caregiver to access support. Whether it's on behalf of the individual making the claim, or to help them come to terms with their loved one's diagnosis and treatment journey. They can simply email the Claims team at ciclaims@canadalife.co.uk with the claim number to request access to Specialist Cancer Care.

If the employee or eligible loved one* making the claim doesn't feel ready to access support at the point they submit a claim, they can get back in touch with the Claims team within 12 months from the date they submit their claim to request support from Specialist Cancer Care.

This service is included for every employee making a critical illness claim or an eligible loved one* at no additional cost, whether the claim is accepted or not.

*This service is available for employees claiming under a Group Critical Illness policy, or  the employee’s spouse/partner making a critical illness claim on the policy, or an immediate family caregiver providing care for the employee, spouse, partner, or child. These services cannot directly support anyone under the age of 18.

This service is a non-contractual benefit provided through Canada Life and can be altered or withdrawn at any time.

Also worth knowing

Private medical insurance covers diagnosis and treatment, but it does not typically provide structured clinical guidance throughout recovery. Specialist Cancer Care works alongside NHS or private treatment, offering dedicated nurse support, coordination of care and management of treatment impact to help employees navigate recovery with confidence.
Employees or an eligible loved one* will need to opt-in to the service when completing Part B of the Personal Statement form.

Within two working days of receiving the referral Perci Health will send them an email with a secure link to access the platform.

Employees will need to click the link in the email to set up their account. They'll be asked to provide some basic personal details and create a password to activate secure access.

When they're in the platform, they'll be asked to complete a short questionnaire providing their GP's details and information about their diagnosis, treatment and current health, helping the Cancer Nurse Specialist understand their situation and tailor the support.
Support includes one-to-one guidance from a dedicated Cancer Nurse Specialist, help understanding diagnosis and treatment plans, preparation for hospital appointments, management of side effects, emotional and practical support, and structured guidance through recovery and return to work, where appropriate.

Where clinically appropriate, employees may also access up to three additional sessions with a team of specialist cancer clinicians such as physiotherapists, dietitians, psychologists, menopause specialists and pain clinicians to support rehabilitation and symptom management.
Cancer Nurse Specialists provide virtual appointments Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm. Specialist cancer clinicians offer virtual appointments seven days a week between 8am and 7pm. Secure messages can be left for the dedicated nurse at any time, with messages reviewed and responded to during working hours.
Employees will continue to have ongoing access to the secure digital platform, including their personalised care plan, appointment summaries, tailored content and clinically validated guidance, so they can refer back to their information and support whenever they need.

Before the end of the 12-month period, their dedicated Cancer Nurse Specialist will discuss available options with them if they would like to continue receiving support beyond this time on a self-pay basis, so they can decide what feels right for them.