Consultation on rehabilitation

The government has opened a consultation on vocational rehabilitation, with a discussion paper that "aims to help people overcome health or disability-related barriers they may face in returning to work".

TUC head of safety Hugh Robertson welcomed the initiative. He said that TUC priorities are to ensure the effective delivery of and access to rehabilitation services, with an emphasis on the role to be played by the NHS and employers, and on support for those with a disability.

A TUC briefing on rehabilitation in April said: "Our main concern is that workers who are injured are too often left to fend for themselves in terms of seeking medical and other care, with the result that 27,000 people every year leave work altogether as a result of a workplace injury or illness."

The deadline for responses is 21 July. The discussion paper is available at www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/2004/elci/voc_rehab_2004.pdf