Chairman of the Occupational Health Committee
Dr Susan Robson
Thursday 4 July
During the year the committee has been involved with a wide range of issues but it has essentially been a period of co-operation and collaboration with a number of other groups, both inside and outside the BMA. The Committee’s prime concern has been the continued promotion of occupational health services to GPs and their staffs throughout the United Kingdom.
Following intensive lobbying by the Occupational Health Committee and the BMA GPC significant funding was promised by the Government. But even the initial deadline for basic services to be in place by 2002 has not been met by many as demonstrated by a recent BMA survey. The situation is bad in England but even worse in Wales and Northern Ireland (although it is recognised that the position is significantly better in Scotland). In an attempt to remedy the situation we have written directly to the Secretary of State for Health asking for future funding to be ring-fenced to ensure that the commissioning of these services will be achieved by primary care organisations, despite all the other priorities they may be facing. We would ask all GPs present who are still without such services to press their primary care organisations to commission them immediately. We are also encouraging occupational physicians to raise their profiles and tender for any available contracts.
By keeping up the pressure on the Government and raising awareness of the problem we hope that the current situation can be remedied without delay.
In other areas of our work, the committee has been involved in responding to numerous consultation documents and to members’ direct enquiries.
The Occupational Physicians Remuneration Supplement mailed to more than a thousand members and non-members in its new format has been largely well received. However, further to recent announcements on the new Consultants’ Contract, a major review of the Supplement may need to take place in time for next April’s edition.
It’s an emotive issue but we continue to work towards the achievement of a common ground and understanding with the BMA’s Private Practice and Professional Fees committee on the question of demand for pre-payment of medical reports sent between colleagues, and here I stress that we are concerned with colleagues.
An important issue brought to the attention of the Committee by the Manchester LMC was the question of the provision of appropriate Mental Health Services for doctors and medical students. We agreed that there was considerable cause for concern and, with the support of the BMA are initially undertaking a survey of the situation and, depending on the results, we aim to promote a national standard of best practice in this area.
Whilst the media often focuses on the risks of transmission of blood-borne viral infections from health service staff to patients, the committee is keen to raise awareness of the significant risks that health care workers face from preventable exposure to contaminated body fluids, with incidents occurring on almost a daily basis.
There are a number of simple inexpensive measures as well as more expensive options available and the committee is actively contributing to initiatives aimed at reducing these risks.
Once again, in collaboration with the GPC and with the doctor/patient partnership, the committee is promoting the removal of the requirement for GPs to provide sick notes.
We hope to be in a position to advise you of success and progress in these areas at the next ARM.
Last: but not least – I would like to thank the secretariat and especially Jackey Brodie for all their help and support in this my first year as chairman – and I wish Jackey well with her imminent happy event.