AFF Overseas Assistant Rachel Barnes recently met the Central European Practice (CEP) team, who reported on the merger of the virtual CEP based in SHAPE, Belgium with the virtual Defence Global Practice (DGP) based at DMS Whittington in Lichfield, UK.
The DGP currently supports a population across the world, including the Americas, Africa and Australia. With this merger all healthcare services will now come under one unified virtual practice supporting a population of around 7,000.
Rachel was told that “this merger is a positive step forward and we will be aligning our services under one virtual practice, enhancing how we operate”.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU?
Access to care will not change. The CEP will remain available to help with medical guidance and billing queries, working in partnership with defence’s healthcare management provider, HEALIX.
WHY THE CHANGE?
The merger is a part of a broader effort to streamline and strengthen Defence healthcare globally. By bringing the virtual CEP under the umbrella of virtual DGP patients will benefit from shared expertise, resources and improved coordination across Europe and the rest of the world.
WHAT’S CHANGING?
The only difference is a new email address for contacting the practice UKStratCom-DMSDPHC-DGP-Enquiry@mod.gov.uk