The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced a new focus on supporting benefit claimants dealing with musculoskeletal conditions. The move is aimed at getting more people who are suffering from back, joint or muscle issues off benefits and back into work.
Latest figures show there are more than 672,000 people claiming PIP for musculoskeletal disease – coming second only to psychiatric disorders which stands at more than 1.3m. As part of this initiative, the DWP is rolling out a fund valued at £3.5 million which will be shared among 17 Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) across England to bolster services for those with the three health issues.
Each area in England and Wales is poised to receive up to £300,000 to address one of the primary causes of economic inactivity. This move is part of the Labour Government’s transformative “Plan for Change”, which it says will both boost financial stability for individuals and restore NHS efficacy.
The move has been welcomed by health campaigners. Deborah Alsina MBE, Chief Executive of Versus Arthritis, said: “With over 20 million people living with musculoskeletal conditions, including 10 million with arthritis, Versus Arthritis understands the devastating impact these conditions can have on working lives.
“Arthritis can cause debilitating pain and joint stiffness and prevent people from doing everyday tasks, with work sometimes made to feel like an impossible challenge. MSK Community Services can be an invaluable resource for people with arthritis, and we are delighted to see the launch of this programme in dedicated sites across England and in the future across the whole country”, Birmingham Live reports.
Speaking on the announcement Employment Minister Alison McGovern MP says: “For too long, people locked out of work with health issues have been forgotten about and denied the support they need to get well and get working. It’s stifling our economy and preventing those eager to progress in life from unleashing their full potential.”
She added: “This multi-million-pound funding boost means musculoskeletal patients across the country will get the help they need, as we give clinical leaders the resources to innovate, get people off waiting lists and get Britain working again.”
Andrew Gwynne, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, commented on the challenge musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions pose to the workforce: “With prevention, early detection, and treatment, we know that the 17 million people with musculoskeletal issues in England could better manage their conditions, improving their quality of life and enabling them to rejoin the workforce.”