The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy urges government to establish UK-wide NHS-based ‘Fit for Work’ service

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy urges government to establish UK-wide NHS-based ‘Fit for Work’ service

CSP response to Dame Carol Black’s review of the health of Britain’s working age population

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) is today calling on government to move quickly to establish a UK-wide NHS-based ‘Fit for Work’ service in order to tackle the growing problem of workplace ill health. The call comes in response to proposals made by Dame Carol Black in her review of the health of Britain’s working age population.

Physiotherapists are ideally placed to tackle workplace ill health and help keep people in work. By intervening early, and playing a key role in the treatment and prevention of health conditions that affect ability to work, physiotherapists can improve patient health and well-being and reduce benefit dependency. The CSP is therefore calling on government to make physiotherapy central to the development of a much-needed NHS-based ‘Fit for Work’ service.

Workplace ill health in the UK urgently needs to be addressed. There are currently 2.6 million people of working age claiming Incapacity Benefit, with 350,000 new claimants as a result of sickness absence every year. Sickness absence costs the economy over £13 billion and 175 million lost working days each year.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the most commonly reported cause of work-related ill health in the UK, affecting more than one million people – twice as many as those suffering from ‘stress’ [1]. They cost society £7.4 billion a year and account for up to a third of all GP consultations. Physiotherapy services are vital to both the treatment and prevention of MSDs - research shows that prompt access to physiotherapy for people with MSDs can prevent the development of chronic musculoskeletal conditions [2] and therefore have an impact upon the potential for development of associated mental health problems.

Phil Gray, Chief Executive of the CSP, comments: “Dame Carol Black’s review is a major step in the right direction and we are pleased to have been able to contribute to it. In order to tackle a serious public health issue like workplace ill health, welfare services must begin to focus on prevention as well as swift and effective treatment.

“Physiotherapists can provide the advice and treatment that will keep people in work and help people return to work, reducing sickness absenteeism and increasing productivity. We therefore urge the government to put physiotherapy services at the heart of a new NHS-based ‘Fit for Work’ service.”

ENDS


For more information, please call the CSP press office on 020 7306 6616 / 6628. Out of hours call Louise Fitzsimons on 07786 332197 or Becky Darke on 07900 160349.

Notes to editors

1. Self-reported work-related illness module of the Labour Force Survey 2005/06. Health and Safety Executive, 2007

2. In addition, research shows that patients who “self-refer” to physiotherapy services are seen more quickly, become better quicker and are absent from work in lower numbers and for fewer days. The average cost for a self-referral episode of care is 25 per cent less that for a referral by a GP. Holdsworth et al, 2006

3. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy is the professional, educational and trade union body for the UK’s 49,000 chartered physiotherapists, physiotherapy students and assistants. For previous releases visit www.csp.org.uk

For further information, please reply to Becky Darke