Ill health is costing the British economy £103bn a year – which is equal to the NHS’ annual budget.
According to the BBC, the calculation will appear in a report by Dame Carol Black, national director for health and work.
Black, who has been looking at ways of getting sick people back to work, is expected to propose replacing sick notes with “well notes”, a declaration of what work the person with health problems is able to fulfil.
The bulk of the £103bn -£63bn- is comprised of benefit costs and unpaid taxes from those who are signed off on incapacity benefits.
Black is also proposing trials of a new Fit for Work service to provide access to specialists such as physiotherapists and counsellors for all employees in the early stages of sickness.
“We have nothing in place at the moment that gives us early intervention and prevention,” she mused.
Secretary of state for health, Alan Johnson, said that getting people back into work has long-term health advantages: “We know that staying in or returning to work is generally good for patients’ health, whereas unemployment is progressively damaging.”
© Crimson Business Ltd. 2008
