Read: Health Coalition brings NHS leaders together to find solutions

There’s been a significant and worrying rise in the number of people who are economically inactive – people leaving the labour force and not seeking, or not able, to rejoin it. The current rate is at record levels with more than one in five of those of working age inactive, around nine million people. There’s also been a particular rise in the number of economically inactive young people, with a 42% rise in 16-34 year olds withdrawing from the labour market.

It’s not hard to see the impact that this will have on the country’s economy: on employers who are facing record numbers of unfilled vacancies, even at a time when unemployment numbers are increasing; and on individuals who will miss out on the opportunities that being in work can bring. Not enough skills within the work force means not enough growth in the economy and in the current climate, this presents huge challenges.  Social Mobility Tsar and former Chief Economist at the Bank of England, Andy Haldane, has raised concerns that the worsening health of British people is holding back economic growth, with the past improvement in the nation’s health and wellbeing seen in the last 100 years,  now being in retreat. The seriousness of the situation is demonstrated by The Prime Minister has now asking the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to review the issues holding back workplace participation and to report back by early next year.

Early retirement is one explanation but there are also 2.5 million who are unavailable to work because of long term sickness. ONS figures show that the medical reasons cited include mental illness and nervous disorders, back and shoulder pain and ‘other health problems’ with the assumption that much of this is due to long Covid. There is an inevitability about this circle of disadvantage, with the spectre of health inequality looming large over the least privileged communities who often pay the highest price. The pandemic not only made people ill, it increased financial and social pressures and had a huge impact on people’s  mental health. We now have a cost of living crisis which is exacerbating that legacy. People are concerned about their ability to pay their bills, keep warm and feed their families undermining further both their mental and physical health. The poorest people have lower life expectancy, live more of their life in poor health, wait longer for diagnosis and treatment and have poorer outcomes from ill health.

For many years there has been a need to reduce health inequalities and this is becoming increasingly urgent. NHS services are acutely aware of this need but are often caught in the crossfire. Higher demand across all its services but with fewer staff to meet it, the NHS is feeling the impact of a shrinking workforce. The Purpose Coalition is working with some of the best purpose-led NHS organisations to address the range of challenges it is currently facing , including not least recruitment, where staff shortages are having an impact on staff, patients and the communities they serve. The Purpose Health Coalition is a group of 15 NHS organisations with over 120,000 NHS employees. Working with local stakeholders, they are developing innovative and creative solutions on issues such as recruitment and retention by working with their local communities encouraging people to apply for jobs, supporting people into lower-banded roles, introducing career development platforms as well as coaching and mentoring. By sharing their best practice, these NHS organisations are demonstrating  innovative leadership that will have a positive impact in the areas where they operate, and can inspire others to follow.

For the NHS, workplace participation is one of its biggest challenges. It is inextricably linked to the urgent need to reduce health inequalities in this country. Collaboration with like-minded organisations and an ambitious approach to making a difference will turn this into a win-win outcome, for the organisation itself, for the people that they serve and also for the economy more widely.  

Leaders of the coalition include:

• Rt Hon Jacqui Smith - Chair of Barts Health NHS Trust & Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust

• Prof Stephen Eames CBE - Chair of Humber & North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership

• Patricia Davies - Chief Executive of Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust
  

• Anne Coyle - Managing Director of South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust
  

• Jacqui Van Rossum - Interim Chief Executive of North East London NHS Foundation Trust
  

• Lyn Simpson - Chief Executive of North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
  

• Foluke Ajayi - Chief Executive of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust
  

• Melanie Walker MBE - Chief Executive of Devon Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
  

• Siobhan Melia - Chief Executive of Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
  

• Brendan Brown - Chief Executive of Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
  

• Glen Burley - Chief Executive of George Eliot Hospitals NHS Trust, South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust and Wye Valley NHS Trust
  

• Helen Greatorex - Chief Executive of Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust