Commentary from Dr Jed Boardman
An independent review aimed at reducing the cost of sickness to
employers, taxpayers and the economy was presented to the
Government by health and business experts Dame Carol Black and
David Frost.
Dr Jed Boardman: “Absence from work owing to sickness has a high
human and financial cost. The longer a person is on sickness
benefits, the less likely they are to return to work. A high
proportion of these people have mental health problems."
"The focus of this review is to examine measures to keep people
in work (with an existing or alternative employer) and to reduce
the number moving on to benefits. It examines several areas in
which these matters can be addressed:
- the assessment of people during sickness absence,
- access to back to work support
- improvement of practices by employers in the private and public
sectors to reduce absence,
- changes in the benefits system.
There are 13 recommendations, including the creation of an
Independent Assessment Service to assess employees’ health and to
advise on supporting a return to work after they have been signed
off work for four weeks or more. People would be referred to the
service by their GP or employer. The Government will review
the findings and recommendations should publish a response during
2012.”
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