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Debate: Fitness for Work statements - whose job is it anywhere?

Presented by: Violet Chidombwe - Occupational Health Advisor Prison Service Setting Also Part-time locum Practice Nurse in an inner City Surgery Contact: violet.chidombwe@hmps.gsi.gov.uk. Debate: Fitness for Work statements - whose job is it anywhere?.

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Debate: Fitness for Work statements - whose job is it anywhere?

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  1. Presented by: Violet Chidombwe - Occupational Health Advisor Prison Service Setting Also Part-time locum Practice Nurse in an inner City Surgery Contact: violet.chidombwe@hmps.gsi.gov.uk Debate: Fitness for Work statements - whose job is it anywhere?

  2. Facts about Occupational Health Nursing Practice: Contributed to sickness absence control up to now Distinct discipline applying relevant multi-skills & knowledge Evidence suggests good models of practice exist Other ways to prevent sick absence have been suggested Hold your horses!

  3. Shifting the balance or the workload? • ?

  4. Lack of committed effort to support the growth of OH Services nationally Statistics on sickness absence remain a headache and costly OH input discounted in mainstream health improvement & regeneration programmes What is Occupational Health Nursing to many? History repeating itself?

  5. Implications for OHNs: Increased administrative procedures (forms, Access & Communications) Prescribing medicines & referral for investigations Fast tracking to treatments & NHS waiting lists would still be a challenge Perceived conflict of interest from staff representatives & employees Therefore, ‘To do or not to do’?

  6. See AOHNP (UK) Website: Jan Maw on Nurse Prescribing (See AOHNP (UK) Website The 9th Ruth Alston Memorial Lecture given by Diana Kloss ‘The legal liability of the occupational health practitioner: benefit or burden?’ (16/10/03) Focus on Legalities:

  7. Improve working practices & accountabilities for safety National Access to affordable OH support services & Training for OH personnel More innovative preventive health promoting initiatives including e.g. chronic self-health management programmes (e.g. Expert Patient Programme) Public education Focus on pathway to the sick note: Alternative Solutions

  8. Should OHN’s be drawn into all this? Practical implications of such an extensive task: Funding/Resources? Crossing boundaries & legal & professional implications? Is time over-ripe for more support for workplace health promotion? Should access OH provision be legal requirement for businesses to trade? When all is not said & not done:

  9. References - Slide 2 • DOH. (1998). Occupational Health Nursing: Contributing To Healthier Workplaces. ENB. (Launch by T. Jowell, MP, Minister of State and Public Health. • DOH, AOHNP (UK) & RCN (2003). Taking a Public Health Approach in the Workplace. DOH. • Dorman, P. (2000). SafeWork - The Economics of Safety, Health, and Well-Being At Work: An Overview. ILO Publications. • Charley, I (1954). The Birth of Industrial Nursing. London: Balliere Tindall.

  10. References - Slide 3 • O.Donnell, M. (Dr). (2004). Occupational Health Professionals Cannot Resolve Sickness Certification Problems. Occupational Health Review. 109: 9-10. • Health First. (1994). A Very Tense Debate: Medics Demand Their Own Scheme. Health First. 7: 12-13. (Health First commentary on the 1994 BMA conference report: Environmental and Occupational Risks of Health Care–Available from BMA House, Tavistock Square, London). • Griffin, N. (1992). Occupational Health Advice As Part of Primary Health Care Nursing. London: HSE.

  11. References - slide 4 • Pickvance, S. (1998). Inequalities in Occupational Health. Occupational Health Review. 73: 16.)

  12. References - slide 7 • Williams, S. et al. (1998). Improving the health of the NHS Workforce. London: Policy Studies Institute. • HSC et al (2000). Securing Health Together: Healthy Work, Healthy at Work, Healthy for Life – A Long Term Occupational Health Strategy for England, Scotland and Wales ‘. HSC.

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