Record-breaking NHS waiting lists are seriously affecting people’s employment, according to a review of the most recent ONS statistics by Broadstone.
According to the most recent statistics for October, the NHS backlog climbed to more than 7.2 million, but the government’s research shows the actual harm this is doing to the country in general and to staff in particular.
One in five or 19 per cent of respondents who claimed the public health system’s treatment backlog had an impact on them stated it had an impact on their work, which equates to about 1.5 million individuals.
The majority of these individuals, 40 per cent, claimed they had to alter the duties they perform, with a fifth adding that they had also cut back on their working hours as a result.
Over 215,000 people of the 2.5 million people who reported that long-term illness prevented them from working, claimed that they had to take long-term sick leave due to the lengthy wait for NHS care.
As a result of rising demand, more people are turning to private healthcare; almost one in seven reported paying for their own treatment in the previous year (7 per cent) or having private insurance cover all or part of it (5 per cent).
Broadstone head of health & protection Brett Hill says: “The queue for NHS treatment is having a huge impact on people’s lives and livelihoods. Waiting a long time for care for an illness or injury can drive a significant deterioration in mental health alongside the physical pain it causes and, as such, it is unsurprising to see the detriment it is having on people’s careers.
“Hundreds of thousands have dropped out of the workforce due to long-term sickness while others are battling on in a different role or with reduced hours. In a cost-of-living crisis, this will be wreaking a terrible financial toll.
“While employers cannot wave a magic wand to eliminate the NHS backlog, they have to consider how to protect their employees from these risks – both on a personal level and to protect their bottom line.
“This is why private healthcare options are an increasingly crucial investment to maintain the happy, healthy workforce and adequate staffing levels that will be a pre-requisite for success and growth next year.”