The Government has unveiled plans to bolster support for individuals sidelined from work due to health issues, aiming to boost employment numbers. The focus is set to be on the leading causes of health-related economic inactivity: mental health problems and musculoskeletal disorders (MSK), such as back pain.
Recent data highlights a significant rise in young workers aged 16 to 34 reporting that mental health challenges limit their work capacity, with a more than fourfold increase over the past ten years. Mental health has become the predominant health issue restricting work for those under 44.
For older workers, MSK conditions are the most prevalent among those who are economically inactive due to long-term illness, as per the Department for Work and Pensions. The Government also points to unhealthy lifestyles as a contributing factor, noting higher unemployment rates among individuals who smoke, consume alcohol excessively, or have a body mass index (BMI) over 40.
Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall stated that the “Health Secretary is already taking action to get people back to health and back to work with extra support to drive down waiting lists in the 20 NHS trusts with the highest levels of economic inactivity”.
The introduction of “crack teams”, surgical high-intensity theatre teams embedded in hospitals to reduce waiting lists, has been met with a mixed response. While some welcome the initiative, concerns have been raised that it fails to address the root causes of the issue, reports Lancs Live.
The King’s Fund charity’s analysis suggests that while there is a clear link between waiting lists and employment, surgery may not be the solution for those out of work due to mental health issues or conditions like back pain. As the King’s Fund puts it, “the majority of these cases will not be solved in an operating theatre”.
Liz Kendall also confirmed the Government’s commitment to recruit 8,500 new mental health staff and expand individual placement support (IPS) to help an additional 140,000 people with mental health problems by 2028/29. IPS is a service integrated within community mental health teams aimed at helping those with severe mental health conditions find and maintain employment through targeted assistance, from CV writing and interview preparation to ongoing mental health support.
The plans also include “new WorkWell services”, established by the previous Government to allow GPs to refer patients to employment advisers and other work-related support. Ms Kendall stated that the Government is devolving “new funding, new powers and new responsibilities to tackle economic inactivity to mayors and local areas because local leaders know their communities best.”
The White Paper details how the Government will invest £125 million across eight regions in England and Wales “to mobilise local work, health and skills support – so everyone who wants to work can get the joined-up support they need.”
This includes additional funding for three areas – the North East, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire – to prevent people from completely falling out of work due to ill health.
As previously announced, the Government has also committed to providing an extra 40,000 elective appointments per week in the NHS. A collaborative programme between several Government departments will explore an MSK community delivery programme to further reduce waiting times for these conditions.
The White Paper also reveals that over 90% of NHS talking therapy services in England currently offer access to employment advisers, with a goal to increase this to 99% by March 2025. .
According to the paper, measures such as the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, increased duty on tobacco and alcohol, and the reformulation of food and drink will aid in prevention. Sam Sharps, executive director for policy at the Tony Blair Institute, stated: “Growing the economy is the only way to get out of the spiral of high taxes and poor public services.”
“But we will never get the economic growth we need with nearly three million people out of work due to ill health. “The key to getting Britain back to work is to keep our working-age population healthy for longer.
“This means shifting to preventative health measures, made possible by advances in screening, digital tools and early interventions. “TBI estimates that even a 20% reduction in the incidence of six major disease categories that are keeping people out of work – cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD), chronic respiratory illness, diabetes and mental health and musculoskeletal disorders – would have significant macroeconomic benefits. “.
