Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Occupational HealthWellbeingOpinion

Devil’s advocate: 12 days of OH christmas

by Personnel Today 4 Dec 2009
by Personnel Today 4 Dec 2009

The end of the year – and the first decade of the millennium – are drawing to a close. In the spirit of the season – yes, it’s the peak time of the year for serious self-harm again – here’s the bah-humbug 2009 Twelve days of Christmas…

Twelve sickies each in the public sector. But 2009 saw the first national (NICE) guidance on long-term absence, setting a new benchmark for employers.

Eleven letters about my article on evidence-based occupational health (OH). Evidence-based OH became a key feature of the Royal College of Nursing Conference.

Ten regional health and work posts were funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Clinical experience wasn’t even in the job description. DWP’s position? Apparently, OH nurses aren’t interested in jobs that only pay £50,000 per annum.

Nine new NICE recommendations on work issues – four on absence and five on mental wellbeing. Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) should do the right thing and start commissioning OH services for all.

Eight per cent unemployment, combined with 7% on incapacity benefit: the need to offer people specialist health support to resume work has never been greater.

Seven helpline sites for smaller companies (SMEs). After the Health and Safety Executive’s failed attempt to provide OH advice without OH specialists, NHS Plus got the chance to do it properly.

Six OH service accreditation standards. At last we have universal standards for OH services. OH nurses Gail Cotton and Graham Johnson led two of the workstreams. In the coming year we need service providers to accredit, and then we can continually raise the bar.

Five told things. OK, not exactly gold rings, but here are five things you wouldn’t have believed if I’d told you them a year ago:

  • Less OH-elected representatives at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is ‘good’
  • Most members of ‘OH Council’ organisations have no OH training
  • Educators will stop running Nursing and Midwifery Council-approved OH programmes
  • Fit-For-Work pilot schemes won’t have OH input
  • Advising an employer that someone is fit without getting express written consent in advance could breach General Medical Council guidance on confidentiality.

Four nurses on the Boorman ‘thank you’ list. Steve Boorman produced a first-rate report on the NHS with new data and thoughtful recommendations. A credit to our speciality.

Three regions with no NHS Plus champion in a telling demonstration of professional apathy – one of these is bigger than NHS Scotland. Doesn’t it make you proud?

Two publications of peer-reviewed primary research by UK OH nurses. Helen Kirk published her research on nursing director effectiveness, and Stuart Whittaker co-authored a study of cancer survivorship. Research isn’t easy, but it can and should be done.

One elected OH nurse rep left at the RCN (down from about 16). If OH nurses only do one thing next year, then it should be to vote and retain at least one.

As we look ahead to the second decade of the millennium, I forecast a lifting of the swine-flu mistletoe ban next year. Now there’s a thought to lift the spirits of Christmas Future.

Avatar
Personnel Today

previous post
Employment minister believes Jobcentre Plus shake-up will aid employers
next post
Male over-50s made redundant in recession find it hardest to get another job

You may also like

Long NHS waits meaning many with long Covid...

17 May 2022

Grants scheme set up to support women’s health...

16 May 2022

Crumbling school buildings ‘risk to life’ suggests leak

16 May 2022

‘Gulf War Syndrome’ caused by release of nerve...

13 May 2022

Workers feeing increasingly anxious, burnt out and fearful...

13 May 2022

Spain plans menstrual leave for painful periods

13 May 2022

How employers can support women during the HRT...

13 May 2022

What it really means to be mentally fit

13 May 2022

What is employee wellbeing? Gethin Nadin talks to...

13 May 2022

The seven dimensions of wellness at work (webinar)

12 May 2022

  • The importance of being an ethical leader and how to become one PROMOTED | What is ethical leadership?...Read more
  • RPO Report: 2022, The Year to Outsource PROMOTED | Employers should be overwhelmed with choice...Read more
  • Report: Enabling organisational agility through talent & people success PROMOTED | Work has been challenged...Read more
  • Employee Trends 2022 report PROMOTED | Edenred research on employees analysed the key employees’ trends for 2022...Read more
  • How finance apprenticeships can boost business PROMOTED | As the world’s most forward-thinking professional accountancy body...Read more
  • Paul Devoy: Showing appreciation to the Investors in People community PROMOTED | Ask most people what comes to mind when you mention Investors in People...Read more
  • White paper: How digitalisation can support evolving occupational health PROMOTED | Download this free white paper to discover how digitalisation can help occupational health meet emerging challenges...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today