Pilot to be launched to help workers with musculo-skeletal problems

The Government is piloting a programme to support people with musculo-skeletal [MSK] problems back to work.

The programme will be piloted from the autumn in certain areas and builds on a similar initiative for patients of talking therapies. A second wave of sites will be launched in 2025. The aim is to introduce employment advice within MSK pathways through building an understanding of the most promising local approaches, gathering evidence of impact and developing the case for wider roll-out.

The project will offer non-clinical employment guidance to people who are receiving clinical support for an MSK health condition and who may be at risk of falling out of work, on sickness absence or who are facing MSK-related barriers to finding employment.

The service will not be mandatory for patients and integrated care boards will have flexibility to implement employment support in a way that aligns with local needs and circumstances.

The Government says it is estimated that 23.4 million working days were lost due to MSK conditions in the UK in 2022 and that MSK accounts for up to 30% of GP consultations in England. MSK is one of the main reasons given for ill health-related inactivity and can reduce productivity in the workplace.

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