Keep Britain working -
Johnson and Purnell respond to Dame Carol Black report
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
News Release issued by COI News Distribution Service. 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 to Editors
1. The full Government response to Dame Carol Black's report
can be found here from 10am on Tuesday, 25 November http://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 http://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.