Britain faces £100 billion bill for ill health
20 March 2008
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The most effective way to help people stay in work or to return to work quickly is to intervene early 
Dr Andrew Vallance-Owen, Bupa's Group Medical Director
Ill health is costing Britain £100 billion a year, according to Dame Carol Black, author of a review titled, 'Working for a Healthier Tomorrow'. The review analysed the health of the working-age population and concluded that Britain needs a "radical" new approach to health and work.
Work is both good for long-term health and for family wellbeing according to Dame Carol. "For most people their work is a key factor in their self-worth, family esteem and identity. So if they become sick and are not helped quickly enough, they can all too easily find themselves on a downward spiral into long-term sickness and a life on benefits."
The review found there is insufficient access to good work-related health support in the early stages of sickness, including mental health conditions. The services were found to be disproportionately concentrated among a few large employers, leaving the vast majority of small employers without support.
In her review, Dame Carol outlined a number of proposals to keep people healthy at work and also to help them return to work if they get ill. These include trialling a new 'Fit for Work' service to provide access to specialists such as physiotherapists and counsellors for all employees in the early stages of sickness. By taking quick action, the aim is to help these people stay at, or return to work as soon as possible.
Dr Andrew Vallance-Owen, Group Medical Director of Bupa agrees that health and wellbeing programmes in the workplace can play a role in delivering key public health messages to a broad range of the working population, including "hard to reach groups". Bupa contributed a range of evidence for the report and Dr Vallance-Owen met with Dame Carol to discuss key issues in relation to workplace health.
"The most effective way to help people stay in work or to return to work quickly is to intervene early and to ensure a supportive environment is created by good management practice working effectively with health provision. Bupa has a range of workplace health products that are designed to support an individual to manage their condition in the workplace as well as providing independent medical advice and suitability assessments for employees returning to work after disability or illness," said Dr Vallance-Owen.
Other issues highlighted in the report include the current sick note process. Dame Carol recommended replacing the "outdated" paper-based sick note with an electronic "fit note", stating what people can do, not what they can't.
She also recommended that occupational health should be brought into the mainstream of healthcare provision.
Dame Carol believes "we cannot go on as we are" and that there are difficult and challenging messages for everyone, "whether they are politicians, healthcare professionals, employers, unions or individuals." Dame Carol believes all have a shared responsibility for the health of Britain's working-age population.
"We must act now to build on the emerging consensus around a new approach to health and work in Britain."
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