Tesco has revealed plans to offer its employees virtual private doctors appointments as the NHS faces ongoing pressures, including declining GP numbers and longer waiting times.

The supermarket retailer told Reuters that it would roll out the benefits package to its 310,000-strong workforce, giving them unlimited appointments with a GP seven days a week.

According to the news agency, digital-first healthcare company Health Hero is working with Tesco's health insurance partner YuLife to deliver the new GP service.

Research by Health Hero found that 84 per cent of GP patients needed an appointment last year, with only 53 per cent who wanted a same-day appointment able to get one.

As part of the service, which will either be via online video or phone call, GPs will have the ability to provide prescriptions.

"This is a direct investment in the health of our colleagues," Tesco's UK people director, James Goodman, told Reuters.

The move comes after Tesco announced earlier this year that it would up pay by around seven per cent, increasing the hourly wage by 72p. This represented the third pay increase over a 10 month period and an investment of more than £230 million.

The new service will reportedly be available to all UK frontline staff, managers, and their immediate families living in the same home. This also applies to Tesco Bank and its wholesale arm Booker.

Staff will also have access to sleep therapists, nutritionists, counsellors, exercise coaches and physiotherapists.

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