News & Features

Business Disability Forum Shares Views on Employment Gap

Posted in General News on Tuesday, November 2nd, 2021

The Business Disability Forum is pleased that the government has announced £5.9 billion worth of funding to improve NHS waiting times. However, the forum has stated that there is a focus on diagnostics and testing and there needs to be more emphasis placed on treatment to help certain disabled people return to work. This would reduce the disability employment gap. Angelia Matthews, Head of Policy for the Business Disability Forum has stated that if the government really wants to get people back to work following a period of long-term sickness they need to think more strategically. Angelia Matthews commented: “We welcome the additional funding to help reduce NHS waiting times. Even before the pandemic, employers were telling us that some employees were waiting nine months to receive an initial assessment with a consultant. But focusing just on diagnosis is not enough. Employers are experiencing people staying off sick until they get treated; not just until they get assessed. Diagnostics and testing need to be promptly followed by treatment and getting the individual to ‘recovery’ as quickly as possible. Rehabilitation is a huge chasm in the NHS; where it can, the NHS is getting employees ready to leave hospital, but it is not getting them ready to return to work.”

Comments (0)