Government sets out plans to tackle economic inactivity caused by ill health

Data shows that the top reasons for ill health-related economic inactivity are mental illness and musculoskeletal disorders (MSK) such as back pain.

According to the Government, the number of workers aged 16 to 34 who say mental ill health limits the type or amount of work they can do has increased more than fourfold over the past decade, and mental health is now the leading work-limiting health condition among people aged 44 and younger.

MSK issues are the most common conditions affecting older working-age people who are economically inactive due to long-term sickness.

In its White Paper, the Government says unhealthy lifestyles are playing a role, with people who smoke, drink alcohol at high levels or have a body mass index (BMI) of over 40 more likely to be out of work.

Speaking in the Commons on Tuesday, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said Health Secretary Wes Streeting had already taken action to get people back to work “with extra support to drive down waiting lists in the 20 NHS trusts with the highest levels of economic inactivity”.

The so-called “crack teams”, which will embed surgical high-intensity theatre staff in hospitals to cut waiting lists, have been welcomed, but there are concerns they will not tackle the root causes.

Analysis by the King’s Fund shows that while there is “clearly a connection between waiting lists and employment”, surgery might “not be the solution” when people are out of work due to poor mental health and conditions such as back pain.

The chairty said the majority of these cases “will not be solved in an operating theatre”.

Ms Kendall said the Government will deliver on its pledge to bring in 8,500 new mental health staff and will “expand individual placement support (IPS) to reach an additional 140,000 people with mental health problems” by 2028/29.

IPS is an employment support service integrated within community mental health teams for people who experience severe mental health conditions.

It aims to help people find and retain employment through targeted help, covering everything from CV writing and interview preparation to ongoing mental health support.

Also in the Government’s plans are new “WorkWell services”, which were established by the previous government to enable GPs to refer patients to employment advisers and other work-related support.

Ms Kendall said her Government would devolve “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 sets out how the Government will invest £125 million in eight areas across 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 extra funding in three areas – the North East, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire – to stop people falling out of work completely due to ill health.

As previously announced, the Government has also pledged to deliver an additional 40,000 elective appointments a week in the NHS.

A joint programme between several Government departments will also look at an MSK community delivery programme to further reduce waiting times for these conditions.

Also in the White Paper is an ambition for 99% of NHS talking therapy services in England to provide access to employment advisers by March, up from 90% at present.

On prevention, the paper says the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will cut smoking and vaping, while there have been already-announced increases in tobacco and alcohol duty and the continuing reformulation of food and drink to make it healthier.

Sam Sharps, executive director for policy at the Tony Blair Institute, said: “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.”

Christopher Rocks, lead economist for the Commission for Healthier Working Lives at the Health Foundation, said addressing the “deep inequity in different parts of the country” is essential to get people working.

Rob Yeldham, director at the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, welcomed the paper, adding: “We will have to wait to see exactly what shape the MSK community programme takes, but it is a promising acknowledgement of the vital role physiotherapy staff play in keeping people healthy and back to work.

“There are currently hundreds of thousands of people waiting for a musculoskeletal appointment in England alone. ONS (Office for National Statistics) statistics released earlier this year showed more than one million people are signed off from work long term due to neck and back pain.

“There’s no doubt that we need more physios to see people in the right place and at the right time.

“It will require more physios and support workers to be employed in the NHS, but that is entirely possible if funding is made available for additional posts.”