A GROUNDBREAKING approach to reduce pressure on GPs and help local people back to work is to be trialled in Coventry and Warwickshire.
The region will take part in a pilot of the WorkWell Primary Care Innovation Fund, which aims to support up to 56,000 disabled people and people with health conditions into work by Spring 2026.
New government funding will enable WorkWell, a joint programme in Coventry and Warwickshire, to connect patients to support services for work and health advice.
Of the 11million fit notes issued by healthcare professionals across England last year, 93 per cent simply declared people ‘not fit for work’ – offering no alternative or support pathway.
Under the new scheme, patients will receive targeted support to manage their health condition while exploring realistic options for staying in or returning to work.
Interventions could include hiring work and health coaches, social prescribers, or occupational therapists to which GP teams could refer patients.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “This pilot in Coventry and Warwickshire is a step towards transforming a broken system that’s 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.”
Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall, said the current system was denying people the dignity and self-respect that work brings.
She added: “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 in Coventry and Warwickshire.”
