Union group urges chancellor to better fund health, social care and childcare to get staff back to work and boost productivity

UK businesses are losing staff working time because of waits for healthcare or caring duties due to underfunded public services, according to a poll of managers before Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ first budget.

More than half of 500 UK business leaders polled for the TUC said workers had to take time off in the last year because of problems accessing public services.