A new UK education initiative has been launched amid warnings that autoimmune diseases may represent one of the most significant yet under-recognised drivers of chronic illness, workplace absence and long-term pressure on the National Health Service.
The Autoimmune Support and Awareness Foundation has introduced a CPD-accredited professional training programme titled “Autoimmune Diseases in the Workplace,” designed to address what campaigners describe as a “silent epidemic” affecting millions of people across the country.
Autoimmune conditions are estimated to affect around one in ten individuals, frequently emerging during prime working years.
Across the UK, long-term health conditions account for tens of millions of lost working days annually, contributing to reduced productivity, economic strain and rising workforce inactivity.
Campaigners also warn that clinicians are increasingly observing younger individuals presenting with autoimmune conditions,...
