News of a £5 million plan to tackle staff sickness in the British National Health Service (NHS) is a recognition of the critical and demanding work carried out by health professionals. Chief executive Simon Stevens said that creating healthy and supportive workplaces was no longer a "nice to have, it's a must do". Under the plan, NHS organisations will be asked to provide staff access to physiotherapy, smoking cessation and weight management services, as well as exercise classes. Stevens wants a particular focus on mental health and musculoskeletal problems, the two main causes of sickness absence in the British health service. Last year 4.25 per cent of working days were lost to staff sickness, almost twice the rate of the private sector.
Given the nature of the work, direct comparisons may be unfair. Health professionals work in a stressful environment where they are more likely to be exposed to risk factors such as infectious diseases, trauma and assault. In this State the HSE has published "Healthy Ireland in the Health Services", its plan to improve health in the workplace. Less prescriptive than the NHS proposal, it notes that happy, well-motivated staff deliver better care and their patients enjoy improved outcomes.
Corporate wellness initiatives have a chequered record: fewer than half of employees participate in health screening; of those advised of a health problem about one-fifth agree to appropriate intervention. Any drive to improve health service employees’ health must also address unhealthy work practices. Nurses wish to care directly for patients and not rbe mired in interminable administrative tasks; understaffed wards increase the likelihood of musculoskeletal injury.
A renewed focus on healthier workplaces is welcome. It resonates with a growing awareness among the general population of the need to combat stress and unhealthy lifestyles. This newspaper, in conjunction with Pfizer, has run a healthy towns initiative for the past four years. This year the focus is on Athlone, where a range of free health promotion activities will be available.