Revealed: Rochdale branded the sick note capital of the country

View of Rochdale's College Bank Flats

Half the population in Central and Falinge ward are off work sick, according to a damning new report.

The Office of National Statistics revealed 42.9% of ward residents are claiming to be too sick to work, and are subsequently claiming incapacity benefits - paid for by the tax payer.

The shocking new statistics have been blamed on GPs who give out too many sick notes, and social services for “planting” all the troubled people in one ward.

Farooq Ahmed, Councillor for Central ward said: “I think it is a fair reflection on Falinge, there is no point denying that there is a problem here.

“Social services seem to just plant people in Falinge who have mental health troubles or are in some way unable to work, so inevitably the stats have gone through the roof. I have spoken to social services in the past about this because the ward has been known for some time for having a very high unemployment rate”.

He added: “In the past 18 months there have been three suicides, three people jumped to their death.

“People are under immense stress and pressure, it is not an easy time for anyone at the moment when it comes to employment.”

Mr Ahmed also believes that GP’s should re-assess their methods for dealing with people who are not working. He said: “Doctors are too quick to give out sick notes and anti-depressants, it is not helping the situation at all. 

“They should spend more time looking at the core of the problem, not the quick solution.”
Rochdale MP Paul Rowen said: "The majority of people in Falinge are hardworking and decent people who have lost their jobs because of de-industrialisation.

"The mills have shut down and people are struggling to find jobs. I want to see less rhetoric and more action.

"The vast majority of people in Falinge who are on incapacity benefit are males over 50."

In March, the figures revealed that 76 per cent of working age adults in the Central and Falinge area were on work-related benefits including jobseekers' allowance - the highest proportion in England and Wales.