As the government pledges the “biggest redesign of the NHS since its inception”, Nic Paton explains that employers must recognize the fact that the health service is not always able to fully support employees who are ill, and workplace healthcare will only become more important.
The latest independent review by Lord Ara Darzi of the NHS led to the announcement of the vision of Keir Starmer for fundamental reforms of the NHS.
Sir Keir’s reform agenda includes a focus on reorienting the NHS towards prevention medicine. This will include more digital solutions for healthcare and more community-based care, rather than just a primary or secondary healthcare service.
Sir Keir, in his speech to the King’s Fund at the launch of the report review, argued that it was necessary to “turn our National Health Service (NHS) into a Neighbourhood Health Service”.
This would include “more tests, scanners, healthcare on high streets and in town centres”, better GP access, digital consultations more for those who wish to have them, and patients being looked after at home more.
He said the NHS was needed to “deal with problems early before people get sick, and before they have to go to hospital.”
The prime minister also said that the service should be “much more bold in its approach to moving from illness to prevention”.
Lord Darzi, a surgeon and renowned reviewer, argued in his extensive report that the NHS is “in serious trouble”. He said that the NHS was in serious trouble not just because of the changes made to it over the last decade, but also because the health status of the country has declined.
He said that “many social determinants have changed in the wrong way over the last 15 years, such as low incomes, poor housing quality, and insecure employment, resulting in a rising demand on the NHS from a society in distress.”
“There is a rise in the number of long-term illnesses, especially among children and youth, as well as in mental health issues. He added that fewer children were getting the vaccinations they needed to protect their health, and fewer adults participated in key screening programs such as those for breast cancer.
He acknowledged that people are having difficulty getting to their doctor, and waiting lists for mental health services, community services, and mental healthcare have increased. The review concluded that A&E was in a “terrible state” and waiting times for hospital procedures had “exploded”.
Working is beneficial to your wellbeing. More people working increases the economy, which generates more tax revenue to fund public services. It is a positive cycle if the NHS helps more people get back to work.” -Lord Darzi
The UK is lagging behind in cancer care, cardiovascular care “is heading in the wrong directions” and a large part of NHS budgets are spent in hospitals.
“At the beginning of 2024, there were 2.8 million people who were inactive economically due to long-term illness.” This is an increase of 800,000 compared to pre-pandemic levels. The majority of this rise can be attributed to mental health conditions,” said Lord Darzi.
“Working is good for your wellbeing. More people working increases the economy, and more tax revenue is generated to fund public services. If the NHS is able to help more people get back into work, there will be a positive cycle.
“More that half of those on the waiting list for inpatient treatment today are adults working age. There are also long waiting lists for mental health services and musculoskeletal care, which are major causes of long-term illness. “Improving access to healthcare is an important contribution that the NHS can provide to national prosperity,” said Mr. He added.
Lord Darzi emphasized that staff absence and sickness within the NHS was another factor. Lord Darzi said that there was also evidence to suggest that too many NHS staff had become disengaged and were suffering from high sickness absence rates. Each nurse and midwife in the NHS could be absent for up to one month per year.
“The pandemic experience was exhausting and its effects continue to resonate.” NHS staff were not only grieving the deaths of colleagues who had been on the frontline, but also at the receiving end of Covid’s rules. They were forced to insist on mothers giving birth alone, and elderly patients and others dying without the comforting touch from their loved ones. Lord Darzi said that the result was a reduction in discretionary efforts across all staff groups.
Insurance-based healthcare: What is its role?
What should employers, HR professionals, and occupational health professionals all take away from this ambitious NHS Reform Agenda?
Steve Herbert, an expert in wellbeing benefits, hit the nail right on the head. In a LinkedIn response, he explained that employers must understand that turning around the NHS will not happen overnight.
He wrote: “As i have said since the beginning of the pandemic’s outbreak, it will take years for the current waiting lists to be reduced to a level that is sustainable.”
Employers will need to adjust to the country’s demographic changes. This means that more older workers are likely to need medical and wellness support throughout their working life if they want to stay healthy, fit and, most importantly, at work.
Employers should prioritize the need for improved company-sponsored tools to promote health and well-being (and, ideally, a strategy to prevent ill health from occurring in the first instance) to maintain productivity. The nation is seeking a sustained return of growth.
Herbert said that when these two issues were considered together, it was clear that employers would have to accept that (at least during this Parliament) the NHS will not be able to provide a safety net that allows ill workers to quickly return to work.
He said that employers should prioritize the development of better health and wellness tools sponsored by their companies (and, ideally, a strategy to prevent ill health from occurring in the first instance) to maintain productivity in a nation seeking a return to sustained growth.
Steve Iley (chief medical officer, Jaguar Land Rover) highlighted the importance of businesses working in greater partnership with the NHS. announced that JLR would be one of several companies to pilot offering NHS Health Checks in the workplace. Work on this is likely to begin at the beginning of next year.
Iley, in a speech after the Prime Minister, said that “this type of work could help with efficiency, and new ways to deliver care, particularly preventative work, as well as increase enjoyment for staff.”
Paul Schreier is the chief executive of Simplyhealth. He stressed that employers are an important part in this conversation about healthcare reform. He said that the government must work with businesses to address in-work illness by recognizing low-cost in-work health supports, such as health insurance plans.
“Also, the excessive tax burden on health coverage products must be reduced in order to better support well-being at work and stimulate economic growth. The burden reduces the motivation of workplaces to support their employees’ health. Our research shows employers are aware of their responsibility to provide this support. Doing more would reduce costs for downstream treatment on the NHS.
We also need urgent attention to improving access to dental care across the country. It must begin with a reform of the dental contract.
Sammy Rubin is the chief executive of YuLife and the founder. He argues that businesses must also play a part in improving the health and well-being of their employees.
Lord Darzi’s Report on the State of the NHS highlights a number pain points that have been evident for some time. These include a rise in long-term illnesses, mental health problems and long waiting times for treatment. He said that the impact of this is felt not only by individuals, but also by businesses who have seen a rise in absenteeism.
Businesses can help in a number of ways to address the challenges faced by the NHS.
Businesses must encourage and support their employees in managing stress and caring for their physical and psychological wellbeing. For example, a 10-minute meditation at the start of the day or a lunchtime walk. Rubin said that these steps can be in the businesses’ interest and for the good of the NHS. They also help to reduce the pressure on the NHS.
The report and the vision of the government for NHS reform received a generally positive response, even if it was acknowledged that the task to turn things around is huge.
Mark Ridler said, “Services have become fragmented, with no shared vision for what good looks or how to deliver these services efficiently, effectively, and equitably in all four nations.” It has never been more important to work together and create a shared vision.
William Roberts said that the Royal Society for Public Health’s chief executive, William Roberts, believes the government’s plans for prevention will be crucial.
Sammy Rubin: “Businesses must encourage and support their employees in managing stress and caring for their physical and psychological wellbeing”.
“The single most effective method to reduce pressure on the healthcare system is to keep people healthy, off hospital waiting lists, and out of hospitals. He said that we already have the knowledge and expertise to provide preventative health services in our communities.
It is good to see that Lord Darzi’s Report acknowledges the importance prevention, protection and health promotion. The investment in public health workers will be repaid many times over. We have nothing to lose, and everything to gain. “We all benefit from a healthy society,” he said.
Professor Martin Green (Chairman of Care England) has highlighted that alongside NHS reforms, the social care crisis in the UK must be addressed.
“Ministers should recognize that reforming and investing in social care is a major issue. The NHS cannot survive and succeed without it. At the moment, 13% NHS beds are filled by patients who need social care. These are not just numbers, but people who need timely care. “Until we deal with this backlog of social care, pressure will continue to mount on the NHS and hospitals,” he said.
Sarah Woolnough is the chief executive officer of the King’s Fund. She said that the devil lies in the details of how NHS reforms will actually look on the ground.
“Now that the government has established the diagnosis, it is time to develop a detailed reform strategy. This plan must show how more investment will be made in primary and local services. The plan must describe how ministers are going to embrace a cross-government approach in order to improve the health of the nation,” said Ms. Sherry.
Andy Bell, the chief executive officer of the Centre for Mental Health emphasized that mental health services and support must not be ignored in any move to a community-based care model that is prevention-focused.
“Today’s Report again discusses the need to shift from hospital care to community-based care and towards prevention of illness. This has been said so many times in previous reviews of the NHS. We need to be assured that this time will be different,” he said.
“That we’ll get real investment in social and public health care, not just platitudes.” We will receive fair funding that is “locked-in” and “irreversible” for mental health services to support and grow our mental workforce. We will also begin to move away from hospital care, when it would be more effective for people to receive community support,” he said.
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