VOLUNTARY Health Insurance, which will be facing competition from BUPA by the end of the year, has stated that its membership has risen by 1,000 per week in the half-year to the end of August. Between March and August, 28,343 members joined the state-owned health insurer - an increase of 12 per cent on the same period in 1995 and membership at the end of August were a record 1.4 million.

The VHI has yet to appoint a chief executive since the resignation of Mr Brian Duncan. Mr Duncan's resignation took effect from October 18th.