The NHS will test the effectiveness and efficiency of different health interventions to get people back into or keep them in employment.
NHS England’s PS45m trial will create ‘health growth accelerators’ in South Yorkshire, North East, North Cumbria and West Yorkshire. These are all areas of the country that have been affected by economic stagnation due to ill health.
Three areas are being developed to improve people’s overall health and to address conditions that affect their ability to work. These include back pain, mental health problems, and cardiovascular issues.
NHS England and the Office for National Statistics will work together to evaluate the economic benefits of a number of health interventions. These include talking therapies, bariatric surgeries, endometriosis treatment, and the NHS Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Programme.
NHS England stated that the analysis will include waiting times, employment and earnings, and feed into the work of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) and the Government on the labour market effects.
The accelerators are designed to prevent diseases such as diabetes, heart attacks, and strokes, which can lead to workers quitting their jobs. This is in line with the government’s priority to shift from treating illness to prevention.
NHS England stated that this could include more support to help people manage their blood pressure, diabetes and lifestyle changes.
The accelerators also aim to test the use digital tools for mental health therapy and musculoskeletal problems, as well as placing employment advisors in clinical pathways and GP settings.
The NHS said that if the trials were successful at improving health and local employment, then they could be expanded on a larger scale by the service.
The funding will also be used to provide health and specialist support to GPs and other health care services in the North East, and North Cumbria. These services can offer coaching and advice to individuals when their health becomes a barrier to work.
A pilot scheme, run by the Department for Work and Pensions and the integrated care board, has helped nearly 2,000 people return to work in County Durham and in the Tees Valley through one-toone support.
Amanda Pritchard, NHS chief executive, said: “By combating a rise of health-related inactivity and helping people to stay in or return to work the NHS can become a key engine for economic growth in England.
She added, “Whether they are dedicated employment advisers at back pain clinics or new digital talking therapy instruments, or more support to help people manage their blood pressure and diabetes, these accelerators’ work will be crucial in helping us boost the health of people while also identifying health interventions that prevent economic inactivity.”
