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Press release: NHS Employers responds to Dame Carol Black's report 'Working for a healthier tomorrow'17 Mar 2008 In response to Dame Carol Black's report, published today on the health of Britain's working-age population, Steve Barnett, Director of NHS Employers and acting Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation, said: "NHS Employers fully supports Dame Carol Black's recommendations for improving the health of the working-age population in Britain. As the largest employer in Europe, the NHS has always taken a lead in improving the health and wellbeing of its staff. Also the NHS workforce is at the heart of high-quality patient care and so has an indirect affect on the health and wellbeing of the wider working-age population. "There is no doubt that work is good for the long-term health of the majority of people and we welcome the focus on keeping people who are in work healthy and getting them back to work if they have been sick. Work should be seen as an aid to recovery rather than something to be avoided. We need to expand occupational health services so that they are providing physiotherapy, psychological therapies and workplace risk assessments to the people who need them most. "We support the recommendation that the paper-based sick note should be replaced with an electronic fit note, switching the focus to what people can do and improving communication between employers and GPs. We are taking part in the review of the sick note with the aim of developing a document that is a certificate of capability rather than a blanket ban on working. It can be difficult for employers to rehabilitate their staff if they have no real indication on the sick note of what is wrong with the employee and a fit note should include information on what tasks the employee is incapable of carrying out so that the employer can find tasks that could be performed." Notes for editors
Contact detailsThe press office provides a comprehensive service to keep journalists informed about the work of NHS Employers. If you have a media enquiry, please contact the press office team:
For out of hours media enquiries, please contact the duty press officer on 07880 500726. Last reviewed 17 Mar 2008 |
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