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UK leader cracks down on 'sick note culture'

Being Sick - Level 4

Britain is cracking down on the nation's "sick note culture". The UK's leader Rishi Sunak believes too many people are claiming welfare benefits because of mental health issues. The leader said this was a drain on the economy and was creating labour shortages. The most common reason for doctors to issue sick notes is mental health. Mr Sunak said: "We need to change the sick note culture, so the default becomes what work you can do, not what you can't."

Sunak wants people off benefits and back to work. He said: "We must be more honest about…over-medicalising the everyday…worries of life." He said half of people who became inactive recently cited depression and anxiety. Many people blame Sunak for this crisis. A charity said: "Services are at breaking point following years of underinvestment." Opposition politicians called Sunak's plans "another front for their culture wars".

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Being Sick - Level 5

British leader Rishi Sunak has plans to crack down on what he labelled Britain's "sick note culture". Mr Sunak believes too many people in the UK are claiming welfare benefits because of mental health issues. He said this was a drain on the economy. He added that people not working was creating labour shortages. The number of sick notes issued by doctors has risen sharply. The most common diagnoses being given by doctors are related to mental health. Sunak said: "We need to change the sick note culture, so the default becomes what work you can do, not what you can't."

Sunak wants to get people off benefits. He said: "We need to be more ambitious about helping people back to work, and more honest about the risk of over-medicalising the everyday…worries of life." He added: "Half of people becoming inactive over the last year cited depression and anxiety." Many people say the government caused the current crisis. A charity said: "Services are at breaking point following years of underinvestment." Opposition politicians called Sunak's plans, "another front for their culture wars". It said the government was "tone deaf, shameless and irresponsible".

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Being Sick - Level 6

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced plans to crack down on what he has labelled Britain's "sick note culture". The leader believes there are too many people in the UK claiming welfare benefits because of mental health issues. He said welfare payments were a drain on the economy, and the number of people not working was creating labour shortages. The number of sick notes issued by doctors has risen sharply since the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The most common diagnoses being given by doctors are related to mental health and behavioural disorders. Sunak said: "We need to change the sick note culture, so the default becomes what work you can do not what you can't."

Mr Sunak has emphasised the need to get people back into employment. He said: "We need to be more ambitious about helping people back to work, and more honest about the risk of over-medicalising the everyday challenges and worries of life." He added: "Half of people becoming inactive over the last year cited depression and anxiety." Opponents of Sunak's plans say his government caused the current crisis. The mental health charity Mind said: "The truth is that…services are at breaking point following years of underinvestment." The opposition Labour party called Sunak's plans, "another front for their culture wars". It said the government was "tone deaf, shameless and irresponsible".

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