Lack of priority within the NHS represents an opportunity for the private healthcare sector the UK Rehabilitation Council has said.
Mark Baylis, deputy chair of the UK Rehabilitation Council (UKRC), a rehabilitation umbrella charity, noted that vocational and clinical rehabilitation, especially getting injured and sick people back to work, is an area where the UK lags behind most other economically advanced countries.
He said: "Although there are many other reasons for this, key factors include rehabilitation being a lower priority within the NHS and a disjointed approach to the different services that help people on the journey back to independence".
"The private sector is increasingly moving into the vacuum created by the low level of state provision, in terms of both funding and care provision.
"The insurance industry led the way with the publication in 1999 of the Rehabilitation Code, which provides a legal framework for care to begin even while the two sides are still negotiating the size of any personal injury damages.
The UKRC pointed out that employers are increasing their use of rehabilitation and using private sector providers.
Baylis said: "Nearly all the big players in the market have embedded an element of rehabilitation into their Employers' Liability and Income Protection policies. Many go so far as to offer financial incentives, in terms of lower premiums, to employers who use rehabilitation."
However, figures from the council still show absence costs to the UK economy of an estimated £16.8bn annually. This represents direct costs of £595 per employee per day plus indirect costs of £465.
"Employers, including the public sector, remain reluctant to become engaged with rehabilitation. This is partly because of regulatory and taxation obstacles, but mostly it reflects deep-seated inertia and a feeling that it is too much trouble," said Baylis
