The UK government announces extra funding to help GP practices support people with long-term health conditions return to work
The UK government has announced new support for GP practices aimed at helping people with long-term health conditions return to work. As part of a broader plan to boost employment and ease pressure on the NHS, the initiative includes additional funding and resources. These will enable GPs to provide more tailored health and work advice to patients, improving recovery outcomes and supporting economic participation. GPs will play a crucial role in this initiative, working closely with patients to develop personalised plans for managing their health conditions while staying or returning to work.
The WorkWell Primary Care Innovation Fund
Fifteen regions will benefit from a new pilot programme to support people with health conditions back into employment. The pilot, named the WorkWell Primary Care Innovation Fund, is backed by £1.5 million. It will be beneficial to explore alternatives to immediately writing people off work with a fit note. The fund will support the establishment of WorkWell sites in these regions, which will serve as hubs for connecting patients to local support services and providing work and health advice to more patients receiving a fit note.
The scheme is expected to support up to 56,000 disabled people and people with health conditions into work by spring 2026. This will reduce economic inactivity, support the NHS and grow the economy by helping more people into work and out of poverty.
This approach follows figures indicating that of the 11 million fit notes issued electronically in primary care and GP practices across England last year, 93% declared people ‘not fit for work’ – offering no constructive alternative or support pathway.
Targeted support for GP practices
The funding will enable WorkWell sites, funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), to connect patients to local support services. This will be achieved through a coordinated approach, where GPs and other healthcare professionals will collaborate with these services to ensure that patients receive the necessary support and advice to manage their health condition and stay or return to work.
There are currently 2.8 million people out of work due to health conditions, and the pilot marks a crucial step towards breaking the cycle of poor health and poverty.
Patients will receive targeted and timely support to manage their health condition from GPs, as well as realistic options for staying in or returning to work, rather than being declared ‘not fit for work’.
Interventions could include hiring work and health coaches, social prescribers, upskilling occupational therapists to issue fit notes, and upskilling GPs to improve their ability to support patients with local work and health advice.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:
This pilot is a step toward transforming a broken system that has been failing people for years. It isn’t just about freeing up GPs to treat patients rather than fill in forms. It’s about fundamentally changing the conversation from ‘you can’t’ to ‘how can we help you?’ When someone walks into their doctor’s surgery worried about their job, they should walk out with a plan, not just a piece of paper that closes doors.
We can’t afford to keep writing people off. Every person we help back into work isn’t just transforming their own life – they’re contributing to our communities, our economy and breaking the cycle that’s been holding Britain back. This is what building an NHS fit for the future through our Plan for Change looks like.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said: “We know that good work is suitable for people’s health and good for the economy too, but the current system is holding too many people back, denying many the dignity and self-respect this work brings.
WorkWell is transforming lives by helping people stay in and get back to work, and this significant investment will help even more people unlock good jobs and boost living standards.”
