Why the Budget’s Missing the Big Picture on Accident Costs
Every year, Britain bleeds roughly £12 billion on workplace and road accidents—think lost days at work, NHS bills, and the sheer drag on productivity. In 2023, accidents cost companies ten times more lost days than strikes did. And the death toll from accidental mishaps has jumped an alarming 42 % since 2013. Yet the Chancellor’s latest spending plans are treating these numbers like background noise.
The Spring Statement’s Missed Opportunity
The Spring Statement promised to “look across all available levers to deliver change at the Budget this autumn.” A strategic focus on preventing accidents would off‑the‑charts:
- Halving the economic damage of accidents could save nearly £6 billion.
- That figure surpasses the projected savings from cutting welfare.
- It would boost tax revenue by keeping more folks working.
- It would free NHS capacity for the cases that do matter.
Where We’re All Split‑Up
Right now, accident prevention is a game of Whack‑a‑Mole across ministries. No single department, no clear ministerial lead. Efforts are scattered across:
- The Department for Transport’s road‑network projects.
- Health and Safety regulations in the Workplace.
- Public Health initiatives in local councils.
It’s a big patchwork, and the overall impact is diluted.
The Remedy: One National Accident Prevention Strategy
RoSPA is flagging a simple fix: a single, coordinated strategy, overseen by one minister and shot through by the Office for Value for Money. This would:
- Cut out bureaucratic overlap.
- Keep investment focused and results measurable.
- Re‑allocate existing funding where it matters most.
- Avoid short‑term cost spikes for businesses and the NHS.
- — and most importantly — save lives.
Take the Lead
If the government can channel this concentrated effort, we’ll see less downtime, lower NHS costs, and a sweeter economic tailwind. It’s a quick win that won’t see a single pound wasted.
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