Mel Stride said the WorkWell scheme would “change lives for the better”; Photo: Geoff Pugh for The Telegraph
Mel Stride, the work and pensions secretary, said too many Britons were falling into a “sickness spiral” as a pilot scheme aimed at tackling the “sick leave culture” was expanded.
Mr Stride's comments come as it was announced that WorkWell, a program that gives people support at work when they want to leave work due to illness, will be launched in 15 areas.
Greater Manchester, where in the past three quarters of a million “good banknotes”, as sick notes are now called, were issued in 2009, is one of the target areas. Another example is Lancashire and South Cumbria, home to almost half a million people.
The scheme is part of Mr Sunak's wider program to tackle unemployment. Around 2.8 million people are now economically inactive due to long-term illness, up from 2.1 million before the Covid pandemic.
In a speech last month, Rishi Sunak said he wanted to end “ culture of sick leave” in the country. “
One idea put forward was to end GPs being the only decision-makers on sick leave, with health and occupational specialists calling instead.Concerns have been raised that GPs are already under strain due to record NHS waiting lists. , may have little incentive not to fire someone who is sick, and the benefits of work are underestimated.
WorkWell sees , how people are referred to a work and health coach for assessment if they believe they are too ill to work. Referrals can be made by GPs, employers and local services.
Individuals are then offered employment advice consultations with a physiotherapist, consultant and HR expert to discuss their circumstances. This may sometimes be followed by developing a plan to overcome obstacles to work or receiving additional training.
Government insiders say the welfare system too often judges people too ill to work and that a more tailored approach could help them keep their jobs.
Mr Stride said: “Too many people are losing their jobs today. falling into a spiral of illness that harms their finances, their prospects and ultimately their health, when with the right workplace adaptations and help this shouldn't happen.”
“That's why we developed WorkWell, which will bring together health and work advice at the local level as part of our plan to end economic inactivity, grow the economy and change lives for the better.”< /p>
The press release states that 59,000 people will use WorkWell from October. Members do not need to be on benefits to benefit from the scheme, which is backed by £64 million of government money.
Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: “We welcome the cross-Whitehall approach to tackling complex problems and are looking. We look forward to seeing these projects get underway.”
Victoria Atkins, Health Secretary, said: “Too often people with disabilities or poor health are left unemployed without support. We have a plan to change this and improve lives so that everyone has the opportunity to find a decent job. This service will help tens of thousands of people.”
Alison McGovern, Labour's employment minister, said: “The Labor Party will look closely at any program that helps people into work.
“But with record numbers of people losing their jobs due to illness and millions of people in rising NHS and mental health waiting lists, we need a long-term plan to fix our NHS and get Britain working, not more pilots skirting the edges.” /p>
Some mental health charities have sounded the alarm over the government's sick leave rhetoric, questioning whether ministers are taking reports of a rise in mental health problems with enough seriousness.
Speech Mr Sunak has been criticized by some mental health charities. James Taylor, director of strategy at Scope, the disability equality charity, said it “felt like a real attack on disabled people.”
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