FREE WEBINAR
The Government has launched the consultation Occupational Health: Working Better https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/occupational-health-working-better. In parallel, HMT/HMRC have also launched the consultation Tax Incentives for Occupational Health (OH) www.gov.uk/government/consultations/joint-hmt-hmrc-consultation-on-tax-incentives-for-occupational-health. The consultation will explore:
- The introduction of a national health at work’ standard to help provide a baseline for quality OH provision including guidance, the option of pursuing accreditation and additional Government-funded support services as well as employer best practice sharing (Chapter 1).
- Best practice from other countries and other UK-based employer models that enable employers to provide support for their employees (Chapter 2); and
- How we develop and support a multidisciplinary workforce on work and health, including an expert OH workforce. This will build on our existing work with the OH sector and explore the opportunities this can offer businesses and providers (Chapter 3).
SOM welcomes the Government recognising OH as an evidence-based approach rather than the un evidence-based well-being initiatives that some businesses are currently spending on.
SOM agrees that quality occupational health (OH) services have the potential to prevent work-related illness and avoidable sickness absence, prevent people falling out of work, support business productivity, potentially reduce pressures on the NHS, and support a reduction in economic inactivity because of health conditions. However, OH coverage across Great Britain is currently at 45% of workers, which is substantially lower than international comparators. Occupational Health must scale up, but quality must be assured, and its preventive side is maximised.. rather than more of the same reactive case management.
Tax incentives may assist with scale, up this requires a focus on behaviour change among employers and on the workforce. Relying on market incentives and legislation will not be enough on its own. SOM sees a link up between the NHS (ICS) and a localised DWP service (using work coaches), with referral to occupational health once triaged, as the way to provide universal access.
Finally, fit notes are not being used effectively and this was not covered comprehensively in the consultation. Just asking more professionals to sign them off wont work as they lack confidence to do them, even when trained. A locally delivered, but nationally led work and health service could be responsible for fit notes, requiring IT data linkage and investment.
Speakers: Shriti Pattani, Steve Boorman, Rachel Suff
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