The Government Response to Dame Carol Black's Review of the health of Britain's working age population noted the particular challenges small businesses face in relation to tackling health and well-being issues – the disproportionate impact ill health absence has upon them, and the fact that line managers have a key role to play but that lack of information and poor access to occupational health advice are the most common barriers for action.
Recognising this, Government launched occupational health adviceline pilots in England, Scotland and Wales on 7 December 2009 that will run until March 2011.
They provide small business owners and managers with early and easy access to high quality, professional advice, tailored to their needs, and in response to individual employee health issues at work, including mental health issues.
From 6 April, GPs in England can also access professional occupational health support for individual patient cases by calling a new dedicated adviceline – 0800 022 4233.
The occupational health adviceline for small business is available to:
- Owners and managers in businesses with 0-249 employees (for England and Wales. In Scotland, the service is available to all businesses)
- Employees working in businesses with up to 249 employees (for England and Wales. In Scotland, the service is available to employees in businesses of all sizes)
Qualified occupational health nurses are available to take calls during office hours to provide advice on any occupational health issue affecting an individual employee.
This direct support will help small business managers to retain the employee at work or help them back to the workplace as soon as possible following a period of sickness absence. We are placing particular emphasis on supporting employers to manage mental health issues in the workplace.
Opening hours for all pilots
Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm (9am – 4.30pm on a Friday in Scotland)
Occupational health adviceline for GPs – 0800 022 4233
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), in partnership with NHS Plus, have launched a new occupational health adviceline for GPs in England. In Scotland, GPs are already able to access similar advice through the Healthy Working Lives Adviceline – 0800 019 2211, www.healthyworkinglives.com. In Wales, GPs are able to obtain health and work advice and support through the Healthy Working Wales website, www.healthyworkingwales.com/home.php, or by calling the Health at Work Advice Line Wales on 0800 107 0900.
In addition to the adviceline service, a website supported by DWP and developed by the Royal College of General Practitioners, the Society of Occupational Medicine and the Faculty of Occupational Medicine was launched on April 6. It includes advice and guidance on the new fit note and on dealing with health and work during consultations. It is accessible at www.healthyworkinguk.co.uk.
The introduction of the fit note (the revised Med 3) on 6 April has raised the profile of well-being in the workplace amongst medical practitioners. The fit note reflects medical evidence that shows that work is good for most people with health conditions. Although the fit note does not require GPs to be knowledgeable about their patients’ workplaces, for those seeking occupational health advice for individual patients or occupational health matters in general there is a comprehensive range of telephone and on-line support and information available. More information can be found at www.workingforhealth.gov.uk/Initiatives/Reforming-the-medical-statement/Default.aspx.
The DWP has published comprehensive guidance for GPs on the fit note, which has been developed in partnership with the Royal College of General Practitioners and the British Medical Association. It is available at www.dwp.gov.uk/fitnote.
Doctors seeking general advice on Medical Statements (including the fit note), reports and disability benefits are advised to call the ATOS Healthcare line which can be found at www.dwp.gov.uk/healthcare-professional/guidance/atos-healthcare/. There are different numbers for different parts of Great Britain. This is a general advice service for doctors and does not cater for individual patient queries.
Further information
For further information on the occupational health adviceline project for small business, please contact oh.adviceline@dwp.gsi.gov.uk.