1 / 28

Fitness for work advice and certification, implications for the Occupational Health Nurse

Fitness for work advice and certification, implications for the Occupational Health Nurse. Cathy Harrison. Fitness for work advice and certification. Background Practice Consideration Ethical consideration. GMS Contract 2003 section 6.48. The Modernisation Agency work

quon-mclaughlin
Download Presentation

Fitness for work advice and certification, implications for the Occupational Health Nurse

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Fitness for work advice and certification, implications for the Occupational Health Nurse Cathy Harrison

  2. Fitness for work advice and certification • Background • Practice Consideration • Ethical consideration

  3. GMS Contract 2003 section 6.48 The Modernisation Agency work programme will cover a number of important areas, including;

  4. GMS Contract 6.48 v. • Furthering attempts to reduce certification work within general practice. • National initiatives such as those established through the Cabinet Office will be implemented.

  5. GMS Contract 6.48 v cont. • Major local pilots in large companies and the NHS will be sought to evaluate the effectiveness of in house occupational health services as an alternative to using general practice for certification.

  6. GMS Contract 6.48 v cont • Should the pilots be successful the aim would be to allow the system to be refined so certification responsibility can be moved to occupational physicians and occupational health nurses, making significant progress towards national coverage by April 2006.

  7. Resources • It is acknowledged that there are resource implications. • The intention is NOT that OH takes responsibility for the whole system • OH is, however seen as a potential player

  8. Pilot Progress to date • Pilot is being lead by Dr Simon Fradd – Chairman of the Doctor Patient Partnership BMA. and Dr Barbara Kneale • Progress to date has been limited. • The intention was to have trials up and running nationally by April 2006

  9. Progress to date • Exploratory meetings have taken place between BMA and; • Coca Cola • Peurgeot • Rolls Royce • Lotus • Ford • NHS Plus Nottingham

  10. Progress to Date • Discussions have taken place between; • DWP • TUC • CBI • Federation of Small Business • A university is currently drawing up a business plan

  11. Issues • Different services required by different communities • Cost • Possible pilot sites • Pilot markers • Evaluation criteria

  12. Response to date • Very positive response from those previously listed. • Some disquiet from other sources

  13. Response to Date • First exploratory meeting has taken place. • Task force has been established. • Future meetings have been arranged.

  14. Considerations

  15. Opportunity or Burden? • Why is this change needed? • Would this service change relationships With employers, employees, trades unions • What are the resource implications • Would it present a role conflict • How would we address confidentiality

  16. Opportunity or Burden? • OH training needs? Funding / provision • How do we manage the problems that GPs have experienced? • Is it appropriate for us to become a gatekeeper?

  17. Sickness What do we mean by sickness? Reasons for absence attributed to sickness vary, and might include; • Fed up with this job, perhaps I'm stressed • No matter how hard I try I cannot get through this work load – maybe I'm ill

  18. Sickness I cannot leave my ill child - Parent at home alone. • I am ill. • A medical diagnosis is only one of manyfactors that influence whether we come to work.

  19. Avoid Inconsistent Messages • " X says that I will never work again" • "X says that I will damage my back if.." • "X says that it would not be safe if…" • Leading to acceptance of work is not good for me.

  20. Focus • What is best for the individual? • What is best for the employer? • What is best for the Occupational Health Nurse?

  21. Consistent Messages • Work in a healthy, supportive environment is good for you. • Work is a determinant of health • The longer an individual is away from work the less likely they are to return

  22. Consistent Approach • What would be the effects of some OH Services providing certification and others not • Do we need a national OHN response

  23. Ethical Principles • Beneficence - do no harm • Autonomy - respect for people - self determination - individual and societal • Justice - equality and non descriminatory

  24. Ethical Considerations • Duty of Care • Duty of Confidence • Informed consent • Competence

  25. Knowledge, Skills and Experience • Do we have the necessary knowledge, skills and experience to take into consideration the biopsychosocial aspects of absence attributed to illness to be in a position to give professional advice?

  26. Opportunity? • OH have in-depth knowledge of the workplace • Understanding of possible adjustments • Understand the health benefits of work • Opportunity to influence the health of the workforce, the company and society.

More Related