The Bannatyne Group is the latest UK health and fitness operator to announce a partnership with HealthHero to offer members access to a range of healthcare services.

Offered as a bolt-on membership for less than £10 a month, the new service will give access to remote GP appointments with experienced, practising doctors, from 8am to 10pm; physiotherapy assessments, dietitian support and mental health triage.

Dependants are also covered for GP telehealth, which generally offer same-day appointments and can provide private referral letters, prescriptions and fit notes where appropriate.

Duncan Bannatyne, chair and CEO of The Bannatyne Group, says: “This initiative underscores our commitment to supporting our members’ health and wellbeing while helping to ease pressure on the NHS.”

HealthHero serves 35 million people globally and delivered more than four million consultations last year. As GP appointments become increasingly difficult to obtain in the UK, a number of operators are broadening their services with medical memberships, including Fitness First, Parkwood Leisure and Everyone Active.

According to the 2024 CQC State of Care Report the number of people waiting more than two weeks for a GP appointment has risen by 18 per cent since the start of the pandemic, from 4.2 million in February 2020 to five million in March 2024.

Sanjay Chada, strategic partnership director at HealthHero, says: “The breadth of services on offer, coupled with the size of the Bannatyne estate, make this a ground-breaking partnership, which will have a significant effect on member health and wellness.

“By providing remote access to these healthcare services and by extending the GP service to include family, we hope it will help give members peace of mind by getting them fast and convenient access to the care they need.”

Owned by former BBC Dragons’ Den business angel, Duncan Bannatyne, The Bannatyne Group operates 69 clubs, 46 spas and three hotels in the UK, with around 200,000 members.