Forum Brief: Workplace Rehabilitation

Thousands of victims of workplace injury and illness and their families are being let down by inadequate rehabilitation services, according to a joint consultation report from the Association of British Insurers and the TUC published today.

The report calls for an overhaul of rehabilitation services in the UK, with a more co ordinated approach to rehabilitation provision, and greater involvement from employers.

In response, minister for work, Nick Brown, said: "The government wants to help people without work find a job and stay in work. People also need to know about opportunities for rehabilitation as quickly as possible if they are to make a lasting return to work.

"We are committed to working in partnership to achieve this goal. I welcome this discussion paper from the ABI and the TUC as an important contribution towards helping people get back to work and to making them better off by doing so."

Forum Response: Association of British Insurers

Mary Francis, director general of the ABI, told ePolitix.com: "Britain's rehabilitation services are far from healthy. The current system is failing ill and injured workers and their families. The longer someone is off work ill, the less chance they have of returning. This can have far-reaching consequences for the injured person, their family and their employer.

"Insurers recognise the important role they have to play, and are keen to play their part in pushing for much needed improvements to rehabilitation practices. By encouraging debate and new thinking, we believe this discussion paper will help to bring about top-quality rehabilitation services throughout the country ".

Forum Response: Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development

Diane Sinclair, lead adviser on public policy at the CIPD, told ePolitix.com: "Effective rehabilitation is crucial to mitigating the damaging effects of long-term absence from work. Both employers and employees gain from early invention. The report is a welcome contribution to the debate on this important issue."