Health and work update for clients
1. Health and Work and priorities for the new Government
The political environment has shifted since the election, but the economic context remains the same.
Before the election there were reported to be 2.83 million people who are economically inactive due to long-term sickness, over 700,000 higher than in January-March 2020 (1).
In their call for evidence on fit note reform, the previous Government also noted that timely access to the right type of joined-up work and health support can prevent people with health conditions from falling out of work and give them the best chance of remaining, and thriving in work (2).
The new Government made clear in their manifesto (3) before the election, and in statements since the transition of power, their commitment to growth. Workplace health is a significant factor in morale, motivation and generating productivity, and through this the growth of that organisation, and national growth. It is likely therefore that the new Government will take forward initiatives that were in place before the election was announced to enhance workplace health, as reported on our June brief (4).
We continue to recommend early referral for those with health conditions impacting on their work, including on their performance, and also where there are workplace factors impacting on their health.
With our information system partner, we have developed our analysis of health trends in our client organisations, following health surveillance and those seen for case management. We report where workplace factors are contributing, to inform the employer’s decisions on preventing ill health at work, as well as our case-by-case guidance on supporting those we see with health conditions in work.
2. Updated Cordell Health website
We have in this last month updated our website. This provides a number of resources, including information on additional services we now have in Wales since bringing on board our previous partner organisation Workare [5] into Cordell Health. There is a link on the home page to our current monthly health and work update for our clients, and also now to previous updates over the last two years [6].
Dr Robin Cordell
MBA FRCP FFOM
[1] Work Foundation report at: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundation/news/uk-has-a-smaller-workforce-that-is-poorer-and-sicker-than-in-2019 [2] Government consultation on fit note reform at: https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/fit-note-reform-call-for-evidence/fit-note-reform-call-for-evidence [3] Manifesto at: https://labour.org.uk/change/my-plan-for-change/ [4] Cordell Health client update June 2024 at: https://cordellhealth.co.uk/health-work-updates/3rd-june-2024/[5] The Workare team now within Cordell Health at: https://cordellhealth.co.uk/workare
[6] Cordell Health home page at: https://cordellhealth.co.uk/