The Government’s first ever National Director for Health and Work has been appointed. Professor Dame Carol Black, President of the Royal College of Physicians, will spearhead initiatives promoting and improving health in the workplace, ensuring that people with health conditions and disabilities are supported to enter, return to and continue in work.

Her appointment was made by the Prime Minister in a major speech to mark the 'Small Change, Big Difference' public health initiative. The role is part of the Health, Work and Well-being Strategy - launched last year by the Department of Health, the Department for Work and Pensions and the HSE.

As Workplace Law previously reported the Government launched the strategy, in October 2005, in a bid to cut down the 40 million days lost every year through sickness and injury. At the launch David Blunkett said he wanted work-related illness and accidents avoided in the first place, and to ensure that people who were ill or injured received fast treatment. The Strategy's main themes are engaging stakeholders, improving working lives and healthcare for working age people.

DWP minister Lord Hunt commented:

"The Health, Work and Well-being Strategy is a crucial part of delivering on the Government's commitment to improving the health and well-being of the working age population, and Dame Black will play a significant role in ensuring delivery of the workplace health commitments outlined both in the Strategy and in Choosing Health.

"This appointment shows we mean business and this strategy is all about actions and not just words. We are committed to building a world which rehabilitates people rather than rejects them when they experience ill health or inactivity.

"This is a key step in taking the strategy forward and making it a reality. We'll take another big step next week when we bring together nearly 200 key stakeholders to make a commitment to helping achieve our vision. This is a strategy that everyone can benefit from, the individual, their families, the employer and ultimately society as a whole."

The Strategy also puts emphasis on creating healthy working environments. Examples of the type of good practice that the strategy is encouraging include:

HMP Belmarsh - sickness rates were as high as 25 days per member of staff in July 2002. The prison radically overhauled the management of absence and introduced a number of measures, including improving the occupational health services available on site. Rates in July 2004 were down by almost half, to 12.85 per staff member.
Royal Mail has reviewed its trigger points for referrals to occupational health advisers. Anyone absent for 14 days gets an automatic referral, but for stress and musculoskeletal disorders they operate a one day referral. The Royal Mail estimates this has improved management of sickness absence and led to equivalent of 2,000 extra staff being at work each day.