Julia Turney, partner and head of platform and benefits at Barnett Waddingham, says, "At last, we're talking about the elephant in the room - prevention of illness, not just cure, is critical to getting the UK's workforce back up and running. It may sound obvious, but it is all too often ignored in the mission to reduce pressure on the NHS and help enable the 2.8 million 'economically inactive' working-age Brits to be fit-to-work. "Employers can play a critical role in creating a healthy and resilient workforce. The Government shouldn't overlook this, and must include businesses in the ecosystem of the NHS, private healthcare providers, insurers, and others working to improve the health of the nation. The Autumn Budget is an opportunity for progressive policy. Employers are leaning on private medical insurance to plaster over the cracks in the NHS, financially justified as being better than dealing with absence. But medical inflation continues to increase, and costs are becoming unwieldy. The Government could support by offering tax rebates on preventative health benefits, guidance around employee care pathways, and incentives to insurers to invest in research & innovation."