Important note: The information in this section is intended for use by journalists only and customers should not use it to make financial decisions. Please remember that information in past press releases may no longer be current

Friends Life is now offering Group Protection customers Doctor Online as part of its Best Doctors® service. Doctor Online is available to all Group Critical Illness and Group Cancer Cover scheme members and their families.

The service allows members to send medical questions, simply and confidentially, to an approved GP via a secure online portal. Through the Doctor Online service members will receive personalised answers to non-urgent medical questions within 72 hours.

All of the doctors are UK based and have been carefully selected to ensure they give the most reliable and up-to-date medical information. They are able to provide advice if a member has a medical question that is worrying them, or simply if they would like some reassurance about something their own doctor has discussed with them.

Doctor Online is intended to provide useful general information on health care issues related to different specialties.

Anna Spender, Head of Group Protection Proposition at Friends Life, said:

'The launch of Doctor Online complements the existing Best Doctors services already offered by Friends Life, which allows members to access expert medical advice and information, whatever their concern. Whether searching for an expert second medical opinion to review a diagnosis and treatment regime, or simply having questions and concerns that they would like to have answered by an expert, Best Doctors is available to help scheme members.'

'Doctor Online is not designed to replace visiting your GP but it could offer members a convenient way of getting some peace of mind about a medical issue which has been worrying them. For businesses, it means employees could avoid taking time off work to visit their GP because they can get advice sent straight to their inbox.'

'Friends Life has formed a fantastic partnership with Best Doctors and we're very pleased to be adding Doctor Online to our Group Critical Illness and Group Cancer Cover propositions.'

Dave Marcus, Director of Client Management at Best Doctors, said:

'The volume of health information on the internet is huge and varies widely in terms of quality and reliability. It can be a stressful process attempting to access material that is both trustworthy and relevant, and the search process itself can be both confusing and time consuming.'

'Best Doctors is committed to offering the best possible medical services to our members and their families, and we are delighted to be extending the services we provide to Friends Life customers with the addition of Doctor Online.'

Best Doctors is a non-contractual service that may be withdrawn by us at any time without notice.

-ENDS-

For more information please contact:

Ben Moss, PR Consultant ben.moss@friendslife.co.uk Tel: 0117 928 5843 M: 07827 832395

Ref: N0237

Notes to Editors

Friends Life provides pensions, investments and insurance for over five million customers. Our key business lines are corporate benefits, protection and retirement income.

Friends Life is the brand name of Friends Life Group Limited.

Our heritage dates back to 1810, with Friends Provident being founded in 1832 to help alleviate the hardship of Quaker families facing misfortune.

Other brands in the Friends Life group include:

  • Friends Provident International, which provides life assurance, pensions and investment products to Asia, Middle East, Europe, UK and other selected markets.
  • fpb AG, a wholly owned distribution partner in Germany.
  • Sesame Bankhall Group, which was formed in 2009, combining an IFA network, support service provider and mortgage club, to create a large distributor of professional support services to financial advisers.

Important

This news service is for information purposes only and does not provide any form of advice, recommendation or financial promotion. Any opinions expressed by third parties are those of the third party concerned and not of Friends Life Group Limited. Friends Life Group Limited does not accept liability for any errors or omissions or for loss incurred because of reliance on information or opinions given.

The content of the news items set out above are accurate only as of the date of issue and Friends Life Group Limited does not undertake any obligation to update them.

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Friends Life is a business name of certain companies in the Friends Life group including the following

Friends Life and Pensions Limited Company number 475201
Friends Life Limited Company number 4096141
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Each of the above companies is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority

Friends Life Marketing Limited Company number 5059179
Friends Life Investment Solutions Limited Company number 6389025
Friends Life Services Limited Company number 3424940

Each of the above companies is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Friends Life Management Services Limited Company number 983330 is an appointed representative of Friends Life Services Limited, Friends Life and Pensions Limited and Friends Life Limited.

Friends Life The Blue Line Limited Company number 3146254 is an appointed representative of Friends Life Marketing Limited.

Suntrust Limited Company number 1460956 is not authorised or regulated by either the Prudential Regulation Authority or the Financial Conduct Authority.

Each company is an incorporated company limited by shares and registered in England and Wales with a registered office at Pixham End, Dorking, Surrey RH4 1QA

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Best Doctors was founded in 1989 by leading physicians at Harvard Medical School and is dedicated to providing access to the world's very best medical advice and information.

Best Doctors is a registered trademark of Best Doctors Inc. in the United States and other countries. Used with permission.

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