Long-term sickness absence (LTSA) is increasingly in the headlines. A report last week from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) found that British workers took more sick leave over the past year than since records began 13 years ago.

Finding ways to enable those on LTSA to return to work is a government priority given the tight labour market and the Office for Budget Responsibility estimating that health-related economic inactivity has cost the state about £16bn more per year than before the pandemic.