Posted on: 26 November 2024
West Yorkshire has been selected as part of a national drive to help improve the health of the population and increase economic growth by providing support to reduce the number of people who cannot work because of ill health.
The news follows a national announcement made by Prime Minister, Keir Starmer today (26 November 2024) which confirms £125 million investment across eight inactivity trailblazer sites across the country. Of the £125 million investment, three of the inactivity trailblazers will be in the North East and Yorkshire region, including West Yorkshire, each receiving a share of £45 million.
In West Yorkshire alone, there are an estimated 101,000 people who are unable to work because of one or more health conditions.
The inactivity trailblazer will bring over £20million of investment into West Yorkshire, enabling us to work together to help reduce the number of people who are economically inactive, helping us to reduce health inequalities and improve health outcomes in some of our most deprived communities.
The funding will be used to:
- Further develop and expand our social care and NHS workforce;
- Ensure continued focus on prevention and early intervention activity, and
- Expand and diversify employment support and employer liaison.
An example of how the trailblazer will work can be seen from the Long Covid vocational rehabilitation work taking place in Bradford District and Craven. Regular patient contact over a prolonged period of time is taking place, with 16 groups for patients to choose from, following initial assessment. Patients take part in a seven week-long covid course to help their recovery, living with Long Covid.
Within the pathway, patients are able to have an Occupational Therapy triage or attend the vocational rehabilitation groups at any time. This has meant that patients in the group who received support to return to work, 88% were working by the end of the programme. In the group who were seeking support to manage well in work, the proportion of people working went from 72% to 100%.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “We’re building a region of learning where everyone has the skills they need to succeed.
“But to grow our economy we must unleash the potential of everyone in it, and that includes giving those being held back by health conditions a fair chance to flourish.
"Bringing together health, skills, and employment support services will enable us to improve the health and wealth of those living in our region, as we build a stronger, brighter West Yorkshire.”
Rob Webster CBE, Chief Executive of NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Lead Chief Executive for the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership, said: “This is good news for people in West Yorkshire and the wider region.
“We have a history of collaboration and will use this resource to show how better, joined up support for people can change lives. We know that there are economically inactive people in West Yorkshire due to their health conditions who want to be supported in different ways to get back into work. Good work is one of the main drivers of tackling inequality.
“I look forward to working with providers, partners, our voluntary community and social enterprise sector across West Yorkshire on this important programme.”