Rammya Mathew: We can’t overlook the backdrop as Britain becomes “a sicker nation”

Plans by the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, to overhaul the sick note system in the UK have left me with mixed emotions. A more independent process, overseen by professionals skilled in occupational health, will hopefully lead to a more robust system, in which people are supported to get back into work as quickly as possible, when they feel able to. But I worry that removing GPs from the decision making will create a less compassionate process that’s unduly stressful for patients, most of whom are genuinely struggling to cope.Some 2.8 million people in Britain are currently signed off as unable to work, and in almost half of them the cause of ill health is depression, anxiety, or mental health problems. The volume of sick notes being issued has also risen steadily over the past decade—and, given the ramifications both for the individual and for wider society, there’s a strong argument…
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