Health and care reform leader meets teams behind Lancashire and South Cumbria work programmes

A former Secretary of State for Health has visited Lancashire to learn about work and health initiatives across the region.

Dame Patricia Hewitt, a national leader in health and care reform, was invited by NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) to hear from the teams involved in the WorkWell, Connect to Work and Fit Note Reform Pilot projects, and attend the Get Lancashire Working Big Conversation alongside local authority colleagues and stakeholders.

The ICB, the Combined County Authority, the Department for Work and Pensions, employment and skills partners, primary care, employers and the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector are working together to make good work a recognised part of improving health and reducing inequalities.

During the two-day visit, Dame Patricia, who served as Health Secretary from 2005 to 2007, met frontline teams, partners and people with lived experience from Preston WorkWell, a network of voluntary-sector organisations helping people remain in or return to good work. She was joined by Lily Howells, Fit Note policy lead at the Joint Work and Health Directorate, and Conor Jackson, work and health lead at NHS Alliance.

Dame Patricia said: "I am hugely impressed by the work being done in Lancashire and South Cumbria to support people with health issues to stay in work, get into work or return to work. It was brilliant to see so many organisations - Lancashire County Council and other local government colleagues, the NHS, voluntary and community groups, JobCentre Plus, business, further and higher education - all working together. This is exactly the kind of local partnership that Prime Minister Andy Burnham is backing.

"The evidence is clear: good work and good health go together. I met some of the dedicated health and wellbeing coaches who are supporting people to deal with mental and physical health issues, stress or bullying at work, and other problems that disrupt people’s lives. And best of all, I heard from people who’ve already been helped by WorkWell and Connect to Work.

"Lancashire and South Cumbria’s WorkWell pilot helped convince the government to invest another quarter of a billion pounds for a national roll-out over the next three years. I congratulate everyone involved on this significant achievement."

Following a successful 18-month pilot, the WorkWell programme in Lancashire and South Cumbria has now moved into a three-year national programme. More than 3,100 people across the region have already received personalised support to remain in work, return after ill health or move closer to employment.

The programme is expanding across every district, strengthening links with primary care and employers, and aligning with local services. The ICB’s partnership with the Lancashire Skills and Employment Hub will create a simpler, joined-up offer aligning WorkWell more closely with Connect to Work and the wider Get Lancashire Working plan.
Charlotte Moul, head of work and health programmes for the ICB, said: "We invited Dame Patricia Hewitt because of her longstanding commitment to integrated working, prevention and the relationship between health and employment.

"This visit gives us an important opportunity to showcase the work of our partners and frontline teams, share learning from WorkWell, Connect to Work and the Fit Note Reform Pilot, and demonstrate how a more connected system can help people stay healthy, remain in work and achieve better outcomes."

Dame Patricia heard how the ICB is leading a national Fit Note Reform pilot. Eligible patients can be referred to a specialist multidisciplinary work and health service for a personalised workability plan covering their capabilities, required support or temporary workplace adjustments, and whether sickness absence is appropriate.

The visit coincided with the Get Lancashire Working Big Conversation, where Dame Patricia was a keynote speaker, creating a timely opportunity to connect local delivery and learning with wider national discussions on prevention, economic inactivity, integrated care and the future of work and health services.

Photo L/R:

• Conor Jackson: Work and health Lead - NHS Alliance,
• Lisa O'Loughlin CBE:  Chief executive - East Lancashire Learning Group
• Ben Harrison: Director - Work Foundation
• The Rt Hon Dame Patricia Hewitt DBE
• Alex Heritage: Chief strategy and planning officer - Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB
• Dr Michele Lawty-Jones: Director - Lancashire Skills & Employment Hub