Britain being overwhelmed by long-term conditions, warns The Work Foundation

The rising tide of people with long-term conditions threatens to overwhelm Britain's economy and the NHS, according to a new report published by Lancaster University's Work Foundation. The Work Foundation is calling on the government to consider the use of tax rebates and financial incentives to employers who help support people with long term conditions to remain in work. The impact on the economy is already estimated to be well over £100 billion per year and will get significantly worse, unless immediate action is taken by government and the NHS. Employment rates for people with long-term conditions are persistently low, despite work being possible and beneficial for many. Employers are also called on to do their bit, by ensuring their workplaces are open and supportive environments and that reasonable adjustments are made to help workers with long-term and fluctuating conditions. Sickness absence costs the UK economy around £22 billion a year with individuals losing out on a collective £4 billion in lost earnings as a result of illness. Mental illness alone was responsible for the loss of 70 million working days in 2007, and days lost to stress, depression and anxiety have risen by 24 per cent since 2009.