I can see the point - but still think it shouldnt be seen AS occupational health, working WITH a primary care type service is maybe fine (but I still think fraught with difficulties. I do wonder how the provision of such a service might dilute the OH message, and also therefore reduce OH salaries..............
Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2011 22:47:39 +0000
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [OCC-HEALTH] Minor Illness Clinic in OH department
To: [log in to unmask]
Hello All
Well that all took me down memory lane, I too started my OH career in uniform dishing out paracetamol, syringing ears etc!!
I agree with Tracey, (got my hard hat on too!) I believe we need to embrace all things relating to employee health and attendance. We recognise absence management as within our remit, promoting attendance, well being etc. People tend to travel further to work and need more time off to visit GP, so why not welcome primary care? Not for us to deliver, but work with, where appropriate.
We should not feel threatened, as we offer a vital service, but able to recognise that other support services could compliment what we do? I just feel we should be able to move on with the times, with enough belief in what we do, so work with rather than against?
Hope to see some of you at NEC on 8th?
Best wishes
Wendy Stimson
On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 3:06 PM, Traceyrawlins
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
I have been watching this for the last few days and it has really got me thinking. So I have decided to stick my head above the parapet-not done easily or lightly!
Whilst I totally agree that 'treatment clinics', such as the one first mentioned that started this thread, are not the remit of OH, I can see that there may be some benefit of them being in the workplace in certain settings. My thinking is- if the employee is seen within the workplace for what would of been the morning/afternoon/day off for a GP visit then that is saving time and money for the workplace (there needs to be stringent procedures in place for communicating with the GP). The flip side of it is how often have we seen people for one thing, and found that there are other issues going on which with OH input can be lessened? It also incorporates partnership working maybe? Just my thoughts. Hard hat on-you can be a scary lot!!!
Tracey
Sent: Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:52
Subject: Re: [OCC-HEALTH] Minor Illness Clinic in OH department
I fought to get a computer and suitable database, and it was only after years of negotiation that this happened. Once Management and the workforce saw the benefits of my efforts with statistics they were very supportive. I used a local chiropodist for foot problems, he came in once a month and the workforce paid for their own treatment. I trained first aider's and was free to carry out Occupational Health as we now know it, A benefit all around.
I remember the furore when we had so many absentees on Friday mornings die to hangovers, the shop floor were paid weekly then, I suggested that they pay them on Friday instead of Thursday. Manager felt this would cause many to be unfit for overtime... of course this was never the case as overtime was a perk they come to rely on. It cut the absence by about 90% at the time. The unions kicked up a bit but I appealed to the sensible stewards and won that battle.
We had a Paracetamol machine installed
itn the tea break area and it was serviced by HR, no problem there.The huge savings on medications I had inherited more that paid for the outlay of the computer.
I brought that company into the 20th century then they made me redundant! what price success
Celia
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Kind regards
Wendy
Wendy Stimson RGN RSPHN (OH)
Director
AWL Occupational Health Ltd
tel: 01293 532477
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