Keep Britain working - Johnson and Purnell respond to Dame Carol Black report

25 November 2008

More people being helped to stay in work rather than drifting into extended sick leave is the focal point of a package of initiatives announced today by Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell and Health Secretary Alan Johnson.

The announcements come in response to Dame Carol Black's groundbreaking report into the health of Britain's working age population, which was published in March.

The package will support disabled people or those who become ill to return to, or stay in work, by helping them manage their condition and get the right help to keep their jobs.

New measures announced in the report 'Improving health and work: changing lives', include proposals to replace the paper-based 'sick note' with an electronic 'fit note' and pilots for 'Fit for Work' services which will support people on a period of sickness absence to return to work.

Other proposals include:

A National Centre for Working-Age Health and Well-Being - which will form an independent, authoritative body providing a range of core functions related to the health and well-being of working-age people. The Centre will identify evidence gaps and encourage research to close those gaps.

Health, Work and Well-being Co-ordinators - who will stimulate action on health, work and well-being issues in their areas, offering advice and support to help local partnerships and engagement with smaller businesses in particular.

Pilot an occupational health helpline for smaller businesses - the helpline will offer help to smaller businesses by providing business hours access to professional occupational health advice on individual employee health issues (including mental health).

A Challenge Fund - which will encourage local initiatives that improve workplace health and well-being through innovative approaches to ensure worker engagement.

Review of the Health and Wellbeing of the NHS workforce - this will be done in partnership with employers and staff and will identify action to improve the health and wellbeing of the NHS workforce.

Alan Johnson said:

"Sick leave costs an estimated £100 billion per year - but helping people stay in work doesn't just have an economic imperative, it has a moral and social one too. Poor health can prevent people fulfilling their potential, leaving them more likely to slip into poverty and social exclusion.

"That is why we have set out a comprehensive framework to help support employers and the NHS encourage individuals back into the world of work as soon as possible.

"I'm particularly pleased to announce a review of the health and wellbeing of the NHS workforce, which will benefit staff and help drive up the quality of care for patients."

Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell said:

"Now more than ever it's important to help people who are sick to stay in work so that they can support themselves and their families.

"These proposals will help do just that. Everyone has the right to work and we want to design a fair system which supports people so they can work when they are able.

"We also plan to extend the help available for small businesses so they have the tools they need to be able to support employees with health problems carry on working if they can or return to work as soon as they are ready."

Dame Carol Black, National Director for Health and Work said:

"I welcome this response and am glad to see that the Government has taken on board my recommendations and is committed to action. I am especially pleased the fit note and the Fit for Work pilots will be implemented along with support for small businesses.

"I believe the measures unveiled by the Government will help make our society a healthier and happier one, where everyone recognises the link between good health and good work.

"But to ensure it happens we need to work together to change attitudes and behaviours. The Government has taken this first important step, but we need to work in partnership, with business leaders, employers and individuals all having a role to play."

Notes

1. The full Government response to Dame Carol Black's report can be found here from 10am on Tuesday, 25 November www.workingforhealth.gov.uk/Government-Response
2. Dame Carol Blacks review 'Working for a Healthier Tomorrow' was published in March 2008. Copies of the original report can be found here www.workingforhealth.gov.uk/Carol-Blacks-Review
3. Key Statistics
   • Cost to the British economy of working age ill-health in terms of working days lost and worklessness is over £100bn each year (as estimated in Black Review).
   • Over 29 million people in employment in UK; an employment rate of 74.4 percent.
   • About 172 million working days lost in 2007 due to sickness absence (CBI survey).
   • Absences that last over four weeks make up around 40 percent of days lost to absence (CBI survey).
   • About 2.6 per cent of working time lost to illness in 2007.
   • 34 million days lost in 2007/08 to work-related illness.
   • 2.6 million people on incapacity benefits in May 2008. Fallen from 2.77 million in 2004.
   • Around 600,000 per year makes claims to incapacity benefits and survey data suggests that half of these had been in work immediately prior to there claim.
   • 5.9 million people in employment in Great Britain say that they have a long-standing health condition.