- Partnership will continue for three more years
- Bupa UK has already provided support for 48,000 treatments
- Double cycling World Champion, Becky James, remains official Bupa UK ambassador
British athletes on the World Class Programme will continue to benefit from extensive medical support as Bupa UK continues to be the Official Health Insurance Partner of UK Sport for a further three years.
The partnership, which has run for 13 years, has already provided vital support to elite athletes covering over 48,000 treatments, from diagnostic tests and MRI scans to surgical procedures.
The three year deal means Bupa UK will continue to support UK Sport’s highly successful Athlete Medical Scheme (AMS), which provides access to specialist medical treatment, when expertise outside of the day to day medical support is required. The medical insurance covers support of elite athletes in their recovery from illness and injury and has recently been extended to include those suffering with mental health issues. It will be delivered alongside the English Institute of Sport, UK Sport’s science, medicine and technology arm.
As part of the partnership, Becky James, a double cycling World Champion, will remain an official Bupa UK ambassador. James has been a big beneficiary of the scheme following recent knee and shoulder surgery.
She said: “As an athlete, knowing we’ve got access to the outstanding medical support and expertise from Bupa UK, as well as the day to day support we receive is incredible. It allows me to stay completely focussed on training and competing knowing I’ve got access to the best expertise available.
“I have witnessed first-hand the benefits of the Bupa UK partnership. The expert treatment has allowed me to focus on my recovery and come back a better athlete.”
Patrick Watt, Corporate Director, Bupa UK said: ”I am proud to announce that we have extended this partnership into its 13th year and beyond. It shows that our health insurance and medical expertise continue to be relied upon by the UK’s best athletes, and will allow sports professionals to access the best possible medical care quickly for three more years.”
UK Sport is investing around £377m of National Lottery and Government funding to help athletes prepare for international competition and ultimately to represent Great Britain at the Summer and Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio, Pyeongchang and beyond.
Liz Nicholl, Chief Executive of UK Sport said: “UK Sport’s continued partnership with Bupa UK demonstrates the importance of injury prevention and fast recovery in the world of elite sport where fine margins can make all the difference.
“With just under a year to go until the Rio 2016 Games, this renewed partnership, which complements the world class care provided by the home country sports institutes, is sure to provide fantastic peace of mind for athletes and coaches allowing them to concentrate on their performances and get to the start line confident they are among the best prepared in the world.”
Find out more about UK Sport's partnership with Bupa >