The Society of Occupational Medicine has stated that occupational health professionals should be included in the local work and health strategy to help people with ill-health return to work and remain in their jobs.
SOM’s response to the Get Britain Working White Paper stated that while the document provided “some useful pointers” for future use, it was disappointed not to “see occupational health clearly stated as a support to prevention of work-related illness”. This echoed broader disappointment among the profession after the publication of the paper.
The white paper , which outlines the government’s plans to improve health and employment skills in local communities by bringing them together with the White Paper, was praised.
SOM acknowledged that cutting NHS waiting lists is an important part of this. Prioritization should be given to preventing people from losing their jobs.
SOM has argued that “prevention is key to preventing people from becoming sick in the first instance, with a recognition of work as a key factor determining health.”
SOM stated that it wanted OH to be involved in providing clinical advice to NHS primary care staff, Department for Work and Pensions employees, National Jobs and Careers Service and Community Assets “to encourage staff to have work and health discussions who are not currently doing so.”
The society reiterated their call for a review on fit notes by way of case note reviews, and for universal access to occupational healthcare.
In this, and again reiterating its long-standing positions, it stated that it wanted to improve access to small and mid-sized companies in order to support them to identify and select OH as well as tax incentives for employers to invest in OH.
The report called on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to play a more proactive role. For example, it encouraged larger organisations or certain sectors to invest in workplace healthcare. SOM suggested that this could be enhanced by the appointment of a national lead clinical for work and healthcare.
SOM stated that it hoped to be included in the “independent review of the role of employers to create and maintain healthy and inclusive workplaces through summer 2025”, as stated in section 86.
It said it would continue to engage officials and MPs in the future, as well as offer support to reduce inactivity due to ill health.
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