Bupa Hospitals backs government’s incapacity benefit claimants’ scheme

Bupa Hospitals has backed the government’s bid to get long-term incapacity benefit claimants back to work.

The business has recruited five incapacity benefit claimants through the Go Forward scheme, a government-backed initiative aimed at getting the long-term unemployed back to work.

The new recruits will work as hospital service advisers at Bupa Hospitals’ new customer contact service centre in Salford Quays, which handles calls from patients accessing services.

Chris Parkinson, recruitment and people development manager of Bupa Hospitals, said: “These are people with a lot to offer. They are enthusiastic about returning to the job market after a period of being unable to work, for reasons such as physical disability or having to care for a relative.

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“One recruit, on being told she had got a job, screamed with delight down the phone. That sums up the terrific reaction we have had.”

Anthony Lengden, business development manager of employee training company CG Resources , said: “Claimants of incapacity benefit are a priority group for the government. Around 2.7 million people claim this benefit and more than 80% would like to return to work if they could access the right support and training.”