Funding boost supports patients to stay in and return to work

The government has added £25 million to Health and Growth Accelerator pilots in northern England to help people with health conditions stay in or return to work. The pilots combine NHS care and employment support in areas with high economic inactivity.

Health and Growth Accelerators will receive an additional £25 million to support patients to stay in and return to work. The pilots bring NHS services together with employment support in parts of the north of England that have high levels of economic inactivity. They focus on common conditions linked to work loss, including musculoskeletal problems, metabolic disorders such as diabetes and hypertension, and mental illness. Officials say the funding aims to prevent health issues from becoming long-term barriers to employment and to make the NHS more accountable for patients' employment outcomes. What we know: - The new announcement adds £25 million to the pilot programme, building on an initial £45 million delivered last year. - Pilots are run by the NHS in South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, the North East and North Cumbria and target areas with high health-related economic inactivity. - Interventions can include NHS-funded employment coaching, gym memberships, counselling, physiotherapy, and referrals to specialist services depending on need. - The programme seeks to make greater use of occupational therapists, employment advisers and physiotherapists to reduce pressure on doctors and provide tailored support. - Examples from West Yorkshire include a stroke rehabilitation return-to-work plan, support for a person recovering from severe burnout, and Active Leeds physical activity and coaching programmes. - The funding announcement comes alongside wider government employment measures, including a stated £3.5 billion package of employment support through the end of the decade. Summary: The funding will allow pilots to continue testing prevention-focused support and to collect evidence on which interventions help people stay in work. The programme's findings are intended to inform wider NHS and government work on rehabilitation, fit-note reform and support for people with cancer.