Sick note culture and ill health tackled - Edinburgh hosts innovative debate by Government, business and health professionals

Edinburgh today hosted one of six key events across the UK as part of the biggest ever review of the health of working age people, in a bid to tackle sickness absence and improve mental health.

Scotland loses 8.1 working days per person each year due to sick leave - costing local businesses millions. But the human cost is worse; evidence shows that being out of work can reduce life expectancy, and lead to poverty and social exclusion, while being in work improves people's self-esteem, quality of life, and all round health. More than 300,000 people in Scotland are claiming Incapacity Benefit - around 9.5 per cent of the population.

Today health professionals and employers got together in Edinburgh to help the Government identify ways to overcome barriers, improve people's health, and help them to stay in or go back to work.

Dame Carol Black, the National Director for Health and Work, hosted the event with the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives. They were joined by Lord McKenzie of Luton, the Minister with responsibility for Health and Work.

Dame Carol said:

"Businesses have millions to lose; but individuals have even more at stake. Being out of work can adversely affect people's health, self esteem, and even life expectancy. The danger point is when sick leave stretches into long term absence, and people risk sliding into a life on benefits. We know that 80 per cent of those out of work for six months will be away from work for five years. And after two years claiming incapacity benefits, people are more likely to die or retire than work again.

"These are shocking facts, but fortunately the damage can be reversed; we know that going back to work improves people's health by as much as the damage done by unemployment, and that work can actually help people make a full recovery. And we know that those who are in or return to work are healthier, wealthier, and more confident than their unemployed counterparts. Healthy employees are also more productive and efficient, which is good news for businesses looking to maintain their competitive edge.

"That's why we urgently need to identify how we can help people not only stay in or return to work, but also improve their health while they are there. And that's why today I'm so keen to hear the views of Scotland's health professionals and employers on how we can work together to overcome barriers, provide the right support, and improve employees' health."

Lord McKenzie said:

"There is powerful evidence that work is good for people's health; staying in work or returning to work can be part of the solution to ill-health. The Government's ambition of full employment isn't about just getting people into work. It's also about improving the support for businesses to manage health conditions in work, saving the costs of sickness absence or recruitment and training of new replacement staff."

Steve Bell, director of the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives, said: "I very much welcome Dame Carol Black's call for evidence, and am delighted to be able to work closely with the UK wide Health, Work and Wellbeing programme on this event. It is a great opportunity for us to be able to share with colleagues from across the UK the excellent work that is happening in Scotland."

The questions Dame Carol is seeking answers to are:

• How can we keep working age people healthy and how can the workplace be used to promote health?
• How can people best be helped to remain in or quickly return to work when they develop health conditions including chronic disease or disabilities?
• How does the age of the person affect the support that is needed?
• How can we encourage action to improve employee health?
• What underlies the apparent growth in mental health problems in the working age population and how can this be addressed?
• What constitutes effective occupational health provision and how can it be made available to all?
• What would be the impact on poverty and social inclusion of a healthier working age population?
• What are the costs of working age ill-health to business and what are the benefits to companies of investing in the health of their staff?

The output from the events will be incorporated into Dame Carol Black's 'Call for Evidence', which will inform the first ever review of the health of the working age population, due to report next year.

People and organisations are encouraged to contribute to the consultation at http://www.workingforhealth.qov.uk or to take part in the series of events around the country which Dame Carol will host. She will provide her recommendations to Ministers early next year.

Last month Dame Carol launched the 'Call for Evidence' at a round table attended by Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Peter Hain and Secretary of State for Health Alan Johnson. At the event they heard evidence from leading business and medical professionals on what action needs to be taken.

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