Government sets up new service to tackle long term sickness absence

The government is setting up an independent assessment and advisory service to help move people off long term sickness benefits and back to work.

The occupational health advice service will provide employers and GPs with access to independent occupational health advice and will offer help to employees who have been signed off as sick to get back into work. GPs will be able to refer a patient to the service at any time, and employers will be able to refer a staff member who has been on sick leave for at least four weeks. …