Fit for Work



The government-commissioned review, Health at work — an independent review of sickness absence, found that, while much sickness absence ended in a swift return to work, a significant number of absences lasted longer than they needed to. Each year over 300,000 people were falling out of work and on to health-related state benefits. It recommended the government fund a new independent service to provide an in-depth assessment of an individual’s “physical and/or mental function” and provide advice about how people on sickness absence could be supported to return to work.



In response, in 2011, the government set up a new national occupational health service, Fit for Work. It completed its roll out across Britain in September 2015. However, after less than three years of operation, it closed the service.


The November 2017 white paper Improving Lives The Future of Work, Health and Disability, set out the government’s 10-year strategy to reform the employment prospects for disabled people and those with long term health conditions. In the document, the government reported that the Department for Work and Pensions-commissioned, Fit for Work, had very low take-up and, as a result, the assessment service would close at the end of March 2018. There is still a Fit for Work advice helpline, website and web chat, offering general health and work advice and support on sickness absence.


The government says it is now looking at how to shape, fund and deliver effective occupational health services and “aims to be in a position to set out a clear direction and strategy for future reform by 2019-20”.


TUC head of health and safety Hugh Robertson called the paper “very disappointing” and “a rehash of existing policies” with “a few general promises and virtually no practical concrete proposals”.