WorkWell!

Rishi Sunak's criticism of what he refers to as 'Sick Note Culture' seeks once more to scapegoat disabled people for adverse trends in both healthcare and finance sectors.

Apr 22, 2024

The Witch Hunter

They were bolder in their persecution back in the day. ‘

Burn them at the stake!’ seemed the remedy for every ‘irregularity’ that presented itself amongst humankind in medieval Europe. This was the answer to the questions born from the existence of the mentally ill or disabled, who before not long figured out how to hide out in fear or foster small communities of support. Treated as outlaws or fugitives, their crimes outlined nothing more than a perceived ‘malevolence’ and ‘uselessness’. In the minds of those more cruel and more ignorant, these ‘misdeeds’ were justification enough to force the disabled onto societies’ fringes; because what use was there for them if not for their ability to work to that same gruelling standard? The essence of community or basic human decency wouldn’t save them,

And so, I guess nothing has changed.

Pardon the (somewhat) overly dramatic anecdote, it’s only that sometimes I look around in awe at societies we’ve deemed oh so progressive, having supposedly moved away from such feudalistic traditions. We’re supposed to look back so glad that we’re (at the very least) not living there anymore. But whilst the barbarianism of it all might have improved just enough to claim a kind of evolution, the sentiments remain eerily similar. We’re reminded of this every time we observe the de-prioritisation of mentally ill and disabled people, with the most recent reminder coming from the lips of our own prime minister.

Cheap Headlines

In a recent speech, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak addressed Britain's "sick note culture," expressing concerns about the rising number of individuals being signed off work due to long-term sickness, particularly citing mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, as if it’s any wonder that the current socio-political and economic climate substantiates anything more than an increase in mental instability…

Sunak also proposed welfare reforms aimed at reducing economic inactivity and emphasized the importance of the welfare state in facilitating a return to work. His plans include trialling a system where work and health professionals, rather than doctors, determine fitness for work, and implementing stricter conditions for claiming welfare benefits, with non-compliance resulting in benefit loss. Sunak's proposals have drawn criticism from those working as medical professionals and disability rights advocates, who argue that the focus should be on improving access to healthcare rather than penalizing those unable to work due to illness. Politicians from other parties have also criticized Sunak's speech, with some accusing the government of neglecting healthcare and social security reforms, “Rishi Sunak is attempting to blame the British people for his own government’s failures on the economy and the NHS” said Ed Davey, Liberal Democracy party leader.

“[The Speech] feels like a full-on assault on disabled people”

James Taylor – Director of strategy at Scope Charity organisation

Sunak announced plans to review the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), considering whether some payments to claimants with mental health conditions could be replaced by ‘treatment or services’, because it’s not like the waiting list for NHS mental health services is already far too long... Others argued that Sunak's focus should be on improving access to healthcare rather than penalizing those unable to work due to illness. Meanwhile, medical professionals urge a focus on providing access to medical help to facilitate a return to work, rather than perpetuating a hostile rhetoric around 'sicknote culture.'

As originally said by MP Matthew Pennycock, it’s clear Sunak was in pursuit of a “Cheap headline” here over any kind of accurate portrayal of the benefits afforded to those suffering from mental or physical disabilities. Mostly, I have disdain for the ways in which it feels like he likens the disabled to that of lazy children seeking a cheeky day off from school. I, amongst others no doubt, are simply waiting for him to say what he really wants to say. As it turns out, you really can’t just add ‘culture’ on the end of a phrase in order to verify it, and few of us are buying that so-called ‘sicknote culture’ even exists. The presence of ableist attitudes towards those receiving health incentivised benefits is nothing new whatsoever. Politicians have been stoking the fires of intolerance for decades. If MP’s are able to make a villain out of a community already so demonised for ‘crimes’ never committed, then the blame focus can shift from their incompetence onto the laps of ‘greedy spongers’ living off of the taxpayers pound.

Going Private

Unfortunately, I fear many fail to realise the knock on effect policies like WorkWell will have in the push to privatise healthcare in this country. We wear the NHS on our flag like a national stamp of pride, a declaration of our moral superiority to other western nations, and a signal that we haven’t succumb to the same capitalist inclinations for greed. What the others don’t know is that the NHS is becoming more and more a shell of its former glory with its mere existence supposedly maintaining our virtue.

The proposal to review and potentially withdraw cash disability benefits for individuals with mental health conditions could be used to substantiate a push for the privatisation of public healthcare, in highlighting perceived inefficiencies and inadequacies in the current system. Sunak's emphasis on exploring alternative options, such as treatment or services, in lieu of cash payments suggest a belief that private healthcare providers may offer more effective and cost-efficient solutions for addressing mental health needs. Those critics of public healthcare just have to argue that the outcry from disability charities and politicians underscores broader systemic issues within the public healthcare system, including challenges related to access, quality, and funding. What’s more, is that concerns raised by disability advocates about the potential negative impact of benefit curbs on disabled individuals might just be framed as evidence of the limitations of relying on government-funded support services. Proponents of privatization merely need to seize upon these criticisms to advocate for a shift towards a privatized healthcare model, arguing that it would offer greater choice, efficiency, and responsiveness to the diverse needs of individuals with disabilities.

But like much else we know that stamps fade over time, losing their vibrant colours and crisp details. These colours blue and white will soon only remind us of the ruling conservative party instead of reminding us of dedicated NHS workers, some of whom will also be likely impacted by the decision to place care out of doctors’ hands.

Whilst this latest speech comes as something to be expected, I’m not entirely sure what to make of it all. It’s feels like Rishi Sunak is quite literally in search of those mentally ill and disabled people with ‘sick notes’ piled high. To us, these might serve as rightful evidence for the need of empathetic relief. But to him? These serve as nothing more than professions of a ‘malevolent uselessness’.

‘Burn them at the stake!’, he’d of said.