ILL-HEALTH and disability that prevents people from working costs Wales approximately £19.4 billion a year, according to findings today from the health watchdog.

Public Health Wales (PHW) said the cost includes lost working days due to sickness absence, people who are out of work due to illness and not seeking work, informal care giving related to illness, lost tax revenue, NHS costs and benefits payments.

PHW’s Ciaran Humphreys said: “In Wales, many people spend more of their lives in poor health, because the building blocks we need to keep us healthy, such as decent housing or good, fair work, can be weak or absent.

“We have seen a rise in people out of work in recent years relating to ill-health, especially mental health among younger people, and musculoskeletal problems in older ages.

“This research shows the economic implications caused by ill-health and disability keeping people out of work, demonstrating the importance of investing in prevention to keep people healthy and support participation in fair work.”

Mr Humphreys also called on employers to be flexible and supportive to help people with health conditions enter and stay in work, which would help those families and the wider economy.

Asthma + Lung UK Cymru’s Bec Miller said: “Wales faces a staggering burden from respiratory disease, with asthma and COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease] costing the economy £772 million annually.

“This includes £295 million in direct NHS costs and £477m in lost productivity and early deaths.”

The Welsh government was asked to comment on the report and its implications.