In the survey of 348 organisations listed with the Department for Work and Pensions, so-called Third Party providers, 184 answered a series of questions about their involvement in helping the long term sick and disabled to find work.

BBC: Disabled parking spaces

Many were pensioned off as long-term sick or disabled rather than continuing to seek work.

ECONOMIST: The economy

The number who are economically inactive because they are "long-term sick" has fallen 101, 000 in the past year.

BBC: A different kind of jobs market

There have been sharper falls over the past year in the number of people retiring before 65 or counted as long-term sick.

BBC: In and out of the job search

The ECJ has also ruled that the long-term sick have the right to accumulate at least a year of unused annual leave.

BBC: EU court: Workers sick on leave can get extra time off

Although the population as a whole was no less healthy, the number of long-term sick rose from about 300, 000 in 1992 to more than 750, 000 last year.

ECONOMIST: The economy

This approach might not work very well for Medicaid patients who already are sick enough to require long term care services.

FORBES: Health Care Reform And The 47 Percent

Of the other categories, 155, 000 were looking after family or the home, and 243, 000 were counted as sick, either short or long-term.

BBC: In and out of the job search

Vaccinating a healthy baby may not seem as urgent as treating a sick patient, but the long-term costs of not doing so are incalculable.

CNN: CHILDREN OF THE CRISIS

And I think it's going to have massive implications for children who are sick and for children who are long-term disabled.

BBC: Staff anger at Eastbourne hospital downgrade plan

The school provides educational for sick and disabled children, some of whom are long-term hospital patients.

BBC: Flag violence is 'damaging' Belfast's trade and tourism