Critical illnesses cost UK economy 'more than £15bn a year'

The economic cost of people withdrawing from work - or experiencing complications - due to cancer, multiple sclerosis (MS), strokes and heart disease has been estimated to be up to £15.2bn a year by Legal & General's ‘Cost of Critical illness' report. Cancer and its impact on individuals in the UK workforce accounts for around £9.3bn worth of losses alone, said the research, while those with MS returning to work earn up to £8000 less each year. More than a fifth (22%) of the financial impact caused by cancer, around £2.1bn, is linked to employees still working and suffering consequenc...