Vita Health Group, one of the UK’s leading private healthcare providers, has teamed up with national leisure and fitness group Everyone Active, to help employees with chronic musculoskeletal conditions get back to work.
Vita Health Group’s Functional Restoration Programme (FRP) is a return-to-work programme focusing on pain management and rehabilitation for employees experiencing persistent or chronic MSK conditions that haven’t responded to other medical treatments and therapies. As part of the enhanced programme, employees who access the service will be provided with a free membership to a local Everyone Active leisure facility.
The aim of the partnership is to address the barriers that can stand in the way of successful rehabilitation and long-term recovery, such as access to gym equipment, swimming facilities, group exercise classes and peer support, thus empowering individuals to take ownership of their wellbeing and recovery.
The partnership is part of a re-launch of Vita Health Group’s FRP, which is the first and only in the UK to combine both mental and physical health within a return to work initiative. The programme has been designed by clinical experts in response to the evident need for physical and mental health services to be truly integrated.
Physical health problems significantly increase the risk of developing mental health problems, and vice versa – research has shown that one-in-three people with a long-term physical health condition also has a mental health problem, most often depression or anxiety. The new programme incorporates mental health screening and education delivered by fully trained counsellors, as well as providing access to self-guided cognitive behavioural therapy programmes to complement the physical rehabilitation required to support workplace wellbeing.
Josh Hutton, FRP and preventative services lead at Vita Health Group, says, “We are thrilled to not only have been the first in the industry to deliver a fully integrated FRP, but also to be in partnership with Everyone Active to empower individuals on their own recovery journeys. Chronic MSK conditions severely impact both work and personal quality of life to the individual suffering – our aim is to help people lead happier, healthier lives.”
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) 23.3 million working days were lost in 2021 due to MSK conditions – MSK conditions are among the leading causes of sickness absence in the UK.
Hutton says: “Addressing the true barriers to recovery and reducing the impact of MSK conditions for employees can lead to a reduction in absenteeism and presenteeism in the workplace, ultimately making substantial cost savings for the employer.”
Early programme results indicate that Vita Health Group’s holistic approach is delivering unmatched results for both employers and employees:
– The majority (93%) of employees’ physical symptoms are resolving or have fully resolved on completion of the programme**.
– The majority (97%) of employees over the past 12 months returned to work on full duties **.
– Employees report a significantly reduced Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) status post treatment, compared to pre-treatment (3.6 post treatment v 12.6 pre-treatment)***.
– Employees report a significantly reduced status of depression post-treatment compared to pre-treatment (4.1 post treatment v 13.8 pre-treatment)***.
Rebecca Phillips, Everyone Active’s Strategic Lead – Health and Wellbeing, says: “With more than 240 leisure and cultural facilities in the Everyone Active portfolio, this is an exciting opportunity to help make a significant difference and contribute to the health of employees with persistent or chronic MSK conditions.”
Phillips continues: “The FRP provided by Vita Health Group, is aligned with our vision at Everyone Active to help support healthy lives, and we look forward to supporting the programme that will help people returning to work with their health and wellbeing.”
Vita Health Group FRP impact results:
**Data based on 445 employee cases discharged between July 2023 – June 2024
***Data based on 230 employee cases discharged (having excluded those whose pre-treatment PHQ-9 score was below six).
