Cornwall and Isles of Scilly welcomes funding boost to support people with health conditions to stay in work

• Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is one of 17 NHS areas sharing £3.5million funding to trial innovative ways to treat musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions as part of the Government’s Plan for Change.
• This builds on our status as a WorkWell region, piloting new ways to help people with health barriers start, stay and succeed in work.
• Nationally 646,000 people are off work with MSK conditions – around 1 in 4 of the record 2.8 million people on long-term sickness benefits. 

People with back, joint, and muscle issues living in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are set to be treated more quickly and supported to stay in or return to work. Over 6% of working age residents in Cornwall, 36,000 people, are economically inactive (meaning they are out of work and not looking for work) due to ill health. Almost as many – 33,400 people – are managing work-limiting health conditions in their jobs.

Cornwall and Isles of Scilly is already one of 15 NHS areas piloting WorkWell – a new service to help prevent people falling out of work due to ill health, and ensure we have the workforce needed to drive growth in our economy. Now, as part of the Government’s drive to tackle economic inactivity NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly is one of 17 Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) across England to share part of a £3.5million package to improve MSK services.   

The funding will see each area receive up to £300,000 to treat one of the main drivers of economic inactivity, and is part of the Government’s Plan for Change.  

The MSK Community Delivery Programme will be administered through NHS England’s Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) programme, and will give ICBs the resources and leadership to develop more efficient ways of getting MSK patients treated, off waiting lists and back onto the path of employment.  

Dr Chris Reid, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB said:

“We welcome this funding to help patients receive the care they need to manage their conditions, to stay and thrive in work, and to remain independent. 

“This adds to our WorkWell service which provides holistic support to people who are struggling to stay in work due to health conditions including musculoskeletal pain, and our work locally to connect them with social prescribers, use approved technology to self manage their condition and offer group classes to help manage pain. 

“We are also developing a community assessment service that can offer injections, joint braces, advice and guidance and have been running super clinics where patients can meet surgical and physio teams and receive support prior to surgery or be directed to alternative care.”

Minister for Employment, Alison McGovern MP, said:       

“For too long people locked out of work with health issues have been forgotten about and denied the support they need to get well and get working.   

 “It’s stifling our economy and preventing those eager to progress in life from unleashing their full potential.   

 “This multi-million-pound funding boost means MSK patients across the country will get the help they need, as we give clinical leaders the resources to innovate, get people off waiting lists and get Britain working again.”   

There are 2.8million people economically inactive due to long-term health and MSK is the second largest reason given, behind mental health. Around 646,000 people – around 1 in 4 (23%) – said MSK was their primary condition.   

 Waiting lists for MSK community services are the highest of all community waits in England, at 348,799 people in September 2024, with approximately 23.4 million working days in the UK being lost due to MSK conditions in 2022 alone.   

Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Andrew Gwynne, said:  

“With prevention, early detection and treatment, we know that the 17 million people with musculoskeletal issues in England could better manage their conditions, improving their quality of life and enabling them to rejoin the workforce.  

“Through the Plan for Change, the government is taking decisive action to drive down waiting lists, improve treatment options and boost the economy.”  

Several of the 17 ICB locations spearheading the delivery of this programme also host NHS England’s Further Faster 20 programme and the Government’s recently announced WorkWell programme – meaning people with MSK conditions will benefit from an amalgamated approach of reduced waiting lists combined with intensive and bespoke employment support.  

Professor Tim Briggs, NHS England’s National Director of Clinical Improvement and Elective Recovery and Chair of the Getting it Right First Time programme, said: 

 “The NHS has a proven record of spearheading improvements through the Getting it Right First Time Programme and this initiative could make a real difference to people with MSK conditions – providing them with the care they need and helping them to return to work.

“Local health systems will be able to assess their current services and share examples of best practice to roll out innovative ways of working, as well as improving data on how services are performing.” 

Deborah Alsina MBE, Chief Executive of Versus Arthritis, said: 

“With over 20 million people living with musculoskeletal conditions, including 10 million with arthritis, Versus Arthritis understands the devastating impact these conditions can have on working lives.  

 “Arthritis can cause debilitating pain, joint stiffness and prevent people doing everyday tasks, with work sometimes made to feel an impossible challenge.  

 “MSK Community Services can be an invaluable resource for people with arthritis, and we are delighted to see the launch of this programme in dedicated sites across England, and in the future across the whole country.”

The Government announced the launch of the Get Britain Working White Paper in November as part of the biggest reforms to employment support for a generation, bringing together skills and health to get more people into work and get on in work.