A cross-party panel has warned that the number of people who are unable to work due to illness could rise to 4.3 millions in the UK at the end this Parliament, from the current 2.8 million.
As it completed its three-year investigation into the relationship between health and prosperity, the Institute for Public Policy Research Commission on Health and Prosperity sent a stark message.
The final report of the study, which was chaired by Lord Ara Darzi, a surgeon, and Professor Dame Sally Davies (former chief medical officer of England), found that 900,000 additional people would be absent from work due to sickness at the end 2023. This number could increase if current trends are maintained.
An improvement in health could save the NHS PS18bn per year by mid-2030.
Released a week after Lord Darzi’s government-commissioned review into the state of the NHS, the study showed better health could solve several economic challenges currently facing Britain, such as low growth and productivity.
He added: “Our Commission identified the rising illness as a major post-pandemic financial challenge. Our final report is a policy blueprint for a new public health approach, which the government can use as it sets up its health missions.
It also noted that certain jobs, such as those in care, leisure, and service, as well manual labor, have higher sickness rates than others. The report also stated that the highest rates of sickness-related inactivity were among people who are working age in Northern Ireland, North East Wales and other parts of Britain.
Dame Sally Davies continued: “I’ve long maintained that Britain’s most important, yet untapped, resource for happiness, growth, and prosperity is better health. The commission’s findings are irrefutable proof that this is the case. “A government that is interested in delivering growth, sustainable services and fairness across Britain should take note.”
The commission’s overall message is that a proactive 21st century health creation system should be created, which would work in parallel with the NHS and go “beyond just intervening when someone gets sick”.
The overall goal of the program is to double regional health disparities and increase healthy life expectancy to 10 years by 2055.
In order to achieve this, the commission has developed a program that includes granting people receiving disability or health benefits a “right to try” work without risking their welfare status. The commission believes that this program should be open to all people with long-term conditions or disabilities and continue for several months, irrespective of any other reforms in health benefits.
The report also recommends taxing polluters and establishing “Health and Prosperity Improvement” zones, which are modeled after Clean Air Zones. It also suggests introducing a ‘neighbourhood healthcare centre’ to every region of the country, and creating a health index that would give a snapshot on how the nation’s state of health is changing, similar to the way GDP measures the monetary values of goods and services.
Lord James Bethell said, “It is time for a health policy that involves everyone – employers, employees, investors, families, communities, and individuals.”
Personnel Today offers HR opportunities in Healthcare
Subscribe to our weekly HR news and guidance
Every Wednesday, receive the Personnel Today Direct newsletter.
