20 October 2004 - Governments Pathways to Work Initiative Request Doctors Help for Return to Work Rehabilitation
The number of people on incapacity benefit has trebled over the past 20 years. Research shows, however, that although 9 out of 10 of these people would like to return to work, but it seems the longer they are on incapacity benefit, the longer they are likely to remain on it.
Doctors are now being asked for their co-operation with the government to end the UK's sick note culture. Some patients would perhaps benefit by a return to work, especially those with back pain, as research has shown that rest as was believed in the past, may not be beneficial to back pain sufferers and can even delay recovery.
Mr Alan Johnson Work and Pensions Secretary commented:
"While we must provide security for those who cannot work, increasingly doctors agree that signing some people off as long-term sick is not always the best way to deal with their health problems. For people who are able to work again, a job can itself be an important step in the road to recovery and rehabilitation.
Rather than rest being the best remedy for back pain, for example, research now shows it can actually delay recovery and make things worse. Advising patients to stay active can help them get back to work and on with their life. The forthcoming White Paper on public health will recognise the beneficial role some work can have in helping people recover from illnesses or disease. And it will emphasise the damaging effects of being out of work - urging the NHS to see return to work as the norm.
Our early evidence shows that given the right support most people claiming Incapacity Benefits can be helped back to work. We are already starting to see very encouraging evidence that more people are leaving benefit in Pathways to Work pilot areas compared to the rest of the country. The number of people on IB getting jobs nationally has risen and in Pathways areas the success rate is double the national average."
Article by Alexandra Johnston
