"It is staggering that people are seeing reductions of up to almost half a thousand pounds in annual earnings due to longer waits for MSK treatment."
- Brett Hill - Broadstone
The latest ONS data has found that the median individual waiting time for all musculoskeletal (MSK) related conditions was 69 days, adding up to over two months, with longer waiting times leading to significant reductions in gross employee pay up to five years after treatment.
The longest waiting time was for those with osteoarthritis, which stood at 83 days, or almost three months.
The largest estimated reductions in annual earnings were observed for patients with other joint disorders, where each additional four weeks of waiting led to a £487 reduction in annual earnings in the fourth year after treatment.
For patients with osteoarthritis, the largest reduction in annual earnings for each additional four weeks waited was £301, in the fourth year after treatment.
For patients with back, neck and MSK pain, the largest reduction in annual earnings for each additional four weeks of waiting time was of £329, in the third year after treatment.
For patients with other MSK conditions, the largest reduction in earnings was of £392, in the third year after treatment.
READ MORE: Cost pressures push UK adults to delay healthcare, Bupa finds
"It is staggering that people are seeing reductions of up to almost half a thousand pounds in annual earnings due to longer waits for MSK treatment - particularly when the impact is still being felt a number of years after first treatment," Brett Hill, head of health & protection at leading independent consultancy Broadstone, said.
"With efforts to bring down NHS waiting lists stalling, many are still grappling with exacerbated MSK conditions due to poor access to care. Alongside reduced levels of physical activity, rising obesity rates and regular home working without suitable workstations, it’s perhaps no surprise that we’re seeing working-age people forced to limit their hours or even leave the workforce altogether.
"There is some progress in recognising the crippling effect poor MSK health is having on workforce productivity and UK growth. For example, the government’s investment in NHS England’s Musculoskeletal Community Delivery Programme to offer targeted MSK support should help improve access to care and minimise time out of work.
"However, in the meantime, employers are recognising that timely and effective care at the earliest signs of any issues is critical to preventing them from becoming serious, long-term health conditions.
"We’ve seen businesses tackle the rise in MSK problems head-on in recent years, investing in ergonomic desk set-ups in offices, remote workstation assessments, on-site health clinics and healthcare benefits such as PMI and cash plans, and engaging with the early intervention services provided by group income protection policies, all to try and keep MSK conditions at bay."
