In this episode of the Society of Occupational Medicine’s Specialist Functional Assessment Medicine Group Podcast, Karen Wallace is joined by Lara Shemtob (Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust) and Kim Burton (Work and Health Policy Advisor) for a deep dive into the growing challenge of long-term sickness and economic inactivity — and how we can respond more effectively.  

Together, they explore:

📈 Why long-term sickness is rising — from delayed access to care to changing workplace demands

🩺 The importance of early, personalised support and the role of clinical oversight in preventing work loss

💬 How support conversations can be reframed to empower individuals and promote recovery

🛠️ The potential of tech-enabled solutions — including digital platforms and predictive tools — to support return-to-work journeys

🏢 The need to engage employers and line managers early, and build a more joined-up approach across health and employment

📚 Why training a new workforce to deliver consistent, empathetic work-and-health conversations is key to future success

This episode is a call to action for clinicians, policymakers, employers, and anyone passionate about improving the relationship between work and health. Tune in to hear how we can move from assessment to empowerment — and build a future where support conversations truly make a difference.

The SOM podcast is sponsored by Orchid Live - specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com.