The Health Secretary is concerned about a sharp rise in the number of people making sickness benefits claims because of diagnoses for mental illness.

Wes Streeting has ordered a review of the diagnosis of mental health conditions as the Government seeks a new means of cracking down on welfare spending, according to reports.

The Health Secretary is concerned about a sharp rise in the number of people making sickness benefits claims because of diagnoses for mental illness, autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the Times reported.

Mr Streeting has charged leading experts with finding out whether normal feelings have become “over-pathologised”, the newspaper said, as he seeks to grapple with the 4.4 million working age people now claiming sickness or incapacity benefit

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