HELEN WHATELY

Health Minister

WORK and health go hand in hand. But in the last few years we’ve seen more people signed off sick.

Worse still, the longer you’re off sick, the harder it is to return to work. So being signed off can end up being written off.

It can mean missing out on a career, or simply missing out on the chance to earn your own income and the financial independence that comes with that.

You miss out on the structure and purpose work brings and social contact – which many jobs bring even if you’re working from home.

Work is a ticket to independence, to financial security and to agency over your life.

These aren’t things we should take away from someone lightly, but this is what’s happening to thousands of people every year.

Advice

We have a plan to change that. WorkWell will support people whose health or disabilities are getting in the way of work.

If you’re referred to WorkWell, you’ll get a coach who can give work advice, have occupational health conversations and help you access local health services like physiotherapy and counselling.

There will be 15 WorkWell pilots across England, backed by £64million of funding. We expect them to help around 60,000 people.

The new service goes hand in hand with our ambitious fit note reforms, shifting the focus from signing off people sick, to helping them be able to stay in work.

Plus the scheme will have another benefit; freeing up GP appointments.

Helping people live their lives to the full is simply the right thing to do.

That’s why we need to stick to the plan, so we can deliver the long-term change our country needs.