WorkWell To Be Piloted In Attempt To Reduce Sickness Absence

Further to our recent article on the Government's proposals to address what it refers to as a "sick note culture" and to move responsibility for assessing fitness to work and the issuing of sick notes away from GP’s to “specialist work and health professionals“, the Government have now announced that a new service called WorkWell will be piloted with effect from October 2024 (at a cost of £64 million). The new service will provide those with a long-term health issue with an assessment to help both manage their health condition and to remove the barriers to work that condition creates, to enable them to stay in / return to work. The service will also act as a gateway for accessing other support services and provide individuals with a "work and health coach".