Creating Healthier Working Lives
If one single geography was implementing all of the initiatives that we know are taking place across the UK, we firmly believe that this area would have solved the crisis in health-driven economic inactivity.
Our in-person event in Leeds on 25 February is focused on creating the roadmap to achieving this. Join us to explore how the health system can help create healthier working lives, boost economic growth and scale progress nationally.
Capacity is limited, so registration does not guarantee a place. We currently hope to send confirmations by 30 January.
Although the event is open to all including non-NHS colleagues, priority will be given to members of our Work and Health Network and in ensuring NHS representation from every ICB geography.
Event aims
- Sharing the very best practice and collaborations from all corners of the country
- Developing a shared definition and understanding of what it means to integrate health with work and skills services
- Make sense of the 10 Year Health Plan commitment for all ICBs to establish specific and measurable outcome targets for work and health, building on learning from the Health & Growth Accelerator Programme
- Identify enablers, resources, and partnerships to achieve this ambition
- Hear from Ministers and local practitioners driving change on the ground
Why this matters
If people are healthier, they are more likely to stay in work. If they stay in work, they are more likely to live healthy, fulfilling lives. Yet sickness absence is at a 15-year high, and 2.8 million people are out of work due to health – costing £85bn annually. We know from setting up the National Work and Health Network that there is a huge amount of progress that the NHS can scale with its partners in DWP, local government, employers and communities to reverse this problem.
Government has made tackling this a priority, but spending on health and disability benefits is projected to rise from £64.7bn to £100.7bn by 2030. This is avoidable – and action at scale is one of the few levers available to the government to improve the UK’s growth trajectory during this forecast period.
