Cirencester Friendly has appointed the HCB Group to support claimants during the Coronavirus crisis.

The income protection provider is now offering to members HCB Group’s tele-triage service on an initial pilot basis.

The service is designed to offer support to customers of insurers offering income protection.

Jo Hadland, head of claims at Cirencester Friendly, said: “I am pleased to be able to say that Cirencester Friendly is working with HCB Group, piloting their income protection tele-triage service. By engaging this service, we can accelerate our claims process and offer additional reassurance to claimants.

“In what has been a quite extraordinary start to the year, the society remains committed to our members and I am confident that with the support of HCB Group we can continue to support them when they need us most.”

Jim Harris, managing director at HCB Group, added: “I am delighted that HCB Group has been able to develop this product to help our Mutual clients support their customers at this very challenging time.

“Cirencester Friendly has made a commitment to its membership to provide claims support, and HCB case managers, as healthcare professionals, are ideally placed to provide this support, and help accelerate the claims assessment process.

“HCB have been providing support, care and compassion to customers of income protection insurers for decades, and we look forward to helping streamline the claims process for Cirencester Friendly members.”