productivity

NHS Providers, which represents NHS trusts in England, said hospitals were already doing everything possible to boost productivity while delivering tough efficiency measures.

He added the NHS must end it's “more, more, more culture” and accept reforms were needed to improve productivity.

It has also improved productivity – to the tune of about 15%, he estimates.

Sandra Busby, managing director of Cnect Wales, which represents call centres, said there was no difference in productivity with working from home, other than in sales where the team environment in an office is important.

The government said smoking also cost the economy £18bn a year in lost productivity, with smokers a third more likely to be off work sick.