The degree of sickness among the many UK inhabitants is costing lives and harming the economic system, a report has warned – after the variety of folks off work because of long-term illness hit one other report excessive.

More than 2.6 million folks now do not need jobs due to their well being, in response to latest employment data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The all-time excessive comes after an extra 491,433 adults had been added to the official whole within the three months from May to July, figures launched on Tuesday revealed.

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) stated in a report on Wednesday that the problem had turn into a “serious fiscal threat” to the UK – and to people’ well being.

The assume tank blamed lengthy NHS ready lists and different issues confronted by the general public in accessing remedy, and stated reform was urgently wanted to avert “killer” prices whereas additionally ending second-rate care.

It comes after the variety of sufferers in England ready to begin routine hospital remedy topped a record high of 7.6 million.

People aged between 16 and 64 who usually are not in employment because of long-term illness are formally classed as “economically inactive”, slightly than unemployed, as a result of they’re both not in search of a job or are unable to work.

Overall financial inactivity – together with college students within the age vary and people not looking for employment for different causes – rose by 0.1 proportion factors through the interval to 21.1%, in response to the official figures.

The ONS stated that whereas the speed had usually been falling in current many years, it elevated throughout COVID and is at the moment nonetheless above pre-pandemic ranges.

The IPPR pointed the finger at what it stated was a decline within the high quality of well being care – and stated the UK was more and more “spending more to get less”.

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“The number of deaths that could have been avoided with timely healthcare or public health interventions is much higher in the UK than in all other comparable European nations,” the report stated.

“We estimate that if the UK had an avoidable mortality rate similar to those in comparable European countries, around 240,000 fewer people would have died in the decade from 2010.”

It added: “On the post-pandemic trajectory, new modelling commissioned for this report finds government healthcare spending in England is on course to rise from 9% of GDP [gross domestic product] to 11.2% of GDP by 2033/34.

“This is far quicker than the speed at which we count on the economic system to develop, suggesting cuts for different public companies or rationing of well being and social care companies.”

The think tank said reforms, such as better integrated services in neighbourhood “well being hubs” and improvements to social care, along with better pay and rights for healthcare workers, could save taxpayers up to £205bn over a decade.

Lord Bethell, former health minister and commissioner, said: “Sick Britain is costing us our lives, our livelihoods and harming the UK economic system.”

He added: “We should begin taking motion to cut back demand and wish for healthcare, via prevention.”

Downing Street acknowledged on Tuesday that enhancements had been wanted in tackling long-term illness.

The prime minister’s official spokesman advised reporters: “We recognise there is more to do to help get people back into work or into the workforce more generally.”

He added: “We are introducing a package of measures worth £3.5bn to remove barriers to the labour market, to support people who would like to work including those with disabilities or health conditions.”

But Nicola Smith, head of economics and rights on the TUC, stated: “This is yet another example to add to the government’s catalogue of economic failures with rapidly rising unemployment alongside record numbers of people unable to find work because of ill health.”

The authorities lately unveiled proposals to shake up disability benefit assessments as a part of efforts to encourage economically inactive folks to enter the workforce.

But considerations have been raised that the reforms might power folks into jobs when they don’t seem to be properly sufficient and make them extra ailing.

Hannah Slaughter, a senior economist on the Resolution Foundation, described the rising variety of people who find themselves too sick to work as a “worrying trend”.

She added: “Addressing this issue will require more than just reforms to benefit assessments, it will need to mean more support for those in work too.”