MSK conditions are one of the leading causes of disability in the UK, resulting in millions of lost working days in the UK, as well as significant numbers leaving the workforce each year.
Not only does this have a serious impact on those affected, in terms of income and mental health, but it also means that their much-needed skills and experience are lost to the economy.
That’s why it is welcome news that the Government has announced a package of support for those with disabilities or affected by long-term sickness, as part of this year’s Spring Budget.
A key focus is closing the “disability employment gap”, which was last year at its highest level since 2018. The employment rate of people with disabilities lags almost 30 percentage points behind that of non-disabled people. The number of people economically inactive due to long-term health conditions has also increased sharply since the pandemic.
In his Budget, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said: “We also want help for those who are forced to leave work due to health conditions such as back pain or a mental health issue. We should give them support before they end up leaving their job.”
He announced a 400-million-pound investment to boost resources for MSK and mental health. These include embedding tailored employment support within mental health and MSK services in England, and scaling up MSK hubs in the community. Existing facilities, such as community and leisure centres, will be used to deliver evidence-based support for MSK conditions, making it easier for people to get treatment.
The aim is to support people with long-term health conditions to access the services they need, effectively manage their conditions, and feel supported to return to or remain in employment.
Another way they are helping people is by improving digital resources. People can get free access to digital tools hosted on the NHS website and app, so they can quickly and easily find support that is right for them.
Of course, there is no simple solution when it comes to helping people with long-term health conditions return to the workplace. There is clearly a lot more work to be done, especially when it comes to addressing inequalities.