DAUK warned a plan to embed job coaches in GP practices overlooks significant practical and systemic barriers.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) announced tens of thousands more sick and disabled people will be offered support into work through advisers based in general practices.
The initiative aims to improve employment opportunities for people with long-term health conditions.
Dr Rosie Shire, a member of DAUK’s GP committee, said: “It is great the Government is connecting work and health, and funding is being allocated to this area.
Barriers
“We know being in work is important for people’s health, and people want to work. What is not mentioned are the barriers to this.”
Dr Shire said that while job coaches can help with training and interview skills, many people with disabilities and long-term conditions need sustained, practical support to stay in employment.
“People with long-term health conditions, disabilities, or impairments have a lot to offer employers, but many will need support in the workplace and employers may need support to keep that person in their job,” she said.
“For example, someone with a hearing impairment might require a British Sign Language interpreter. Who will fund that?”
Access to Work
She added delays and rejections in the Government’s Access to Work scheme had already left many without the help they need.
“Upskilling is helpful, but it’s not the only barrier preventing people from working. Who is going to provide the support long-term?”
Dr Sarah Jacques, DAUK GP co-lead, raised logistical concerns about the proposal.
“The DWP has been trying to do this for a while,” she said.
GP practices
“However, when I have spoken to my regional DWP, it hasn’t been able to have a presence in GP practices as there aren’t any spare rooms.
“It also only has enough coaches to be in a surgery once a month.
“On one occasion they wanted a delay in issuing a sick note until the patient had seen a job coach.
“The coach was only going to be able to offer a handful of appointments each time they were present.
“How am I going to reason with a patient that they may have to wait four weeks before they saw someone when they might not have any money to survive that four weeks?
“Unless DWP is going to up capacity and GP surgeries turn into a Tardis, I don’t know how this is going to work.”
DAUK committee members are all volunteers and campaign about issues facing doctors in their own time. Please support our work by joining DAUK or donating to our GoFundMe.
