Wes Streeting declares war on 'sick note Britain' as Labour vows to get people off benefits

The figure has gone up by 127,000 in the last year alone.

The Health Secretary said his department is "no longer simply a public services department", adding: "This is an economic growth department. And the health of the nation and the health of the economy are inextricably linked.

"That means we're going to be a government that firstly recognises that fact.

"And recognises that as we get people not just back to health but back to work – that's a big contribution to growth when there are three million people off work and off sick."

Speaking at a conference hosted by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, Streeting said improving the nation's health and boosting the labour market back to where it was before the Covid-19 pandemic could generate billions for the Treasury and "get Britain booming".

He said: "The starting point has got to be 'we will help you achieve your mission for growth and improve the prosperity and lives of everyone in this country by making sure that we are with you lockstep in driving growth'.

"That is a big shift in mindset and focus and activity."

Speaking about his plans for NHS reform, he said: "Our love for the NHS is not in doubt but sometimes, if you love someone, you have to force them to change."

Streeting added: "I want to end the begging bowl culture, where the Health Secretary only ever goes to the Treasury to ask for more money. I want to deliver the Treasury billions of pounds of economic growth.

"This Government's agenda for health and social care can help drag our economy out of the sluggish productivity and poor growth of recent years.

"By cutting waiting lists, we can get Britain back to health and back to work, and by taking bold action on public health, we can build the healthy society needed for a healthy economy."