Airing Pain

This edition is funded by a grant from the Moffatt Trust. As many as a quarter of people with chronic pain go on to lose their jobs, so what can be done to make staying in work more achievable? We look for answers in this first of two episodes focusing on employment. ‘With the right support, many people on sick leave, could be in work or helped back to work faster’, says Dame Carol Black, independent expert advisor to the government. She explains why ‘good work’ – work where people are listened to, respected and have some control – is not only important for our mental wellbeing, but can even predict back pain. The result of Dame Black’s report into this issue was the government’s Fit to Work scheme. Occupational therapist Gerry McFeely describes how the programme aims to help those on sick leave to develop a Return to Work Plan. Contributors:  Dame Carol Black, Expert Advisor on Health and Work to Public Health England in the Department of Health  Gerry McFeely, Macmillan Consultant Occupationa