Medicine and Science from The BMJ cover image

Medicine and Science from The BMJ

Reducing benefits will not get disabled people back to work, and explaining overdiagnosis

Apr 9, 2025
32:35

The UK’s chancellor has announced a £5bn cut to benefits, much of which will be borne by those on long-term disability allowance. Gerry McCartney, professor of wellbeing economy at Glasgow University explains about why these cuts will not only hurt the most vulnerable, but will be counterproductive to the government's wish to get people back to work.

Also, Suzanne O'Sullivan, consultant neurologist and author, joins us to talk about her new book "Age of Diagnosis". The book used clinical cases to explore the issues of medicalisation, and Suzanne explains why overdiagnosis doesn't mean that care isn't needed.

 

Reading list;

UK welfare reforms threaten health of the most vulnerable

Guardian edited extract from "The Age of Diagnosis: Sickness, Health and Why Medicine Has Gone Too Far"

 

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