UK Government response to Dame Carol Black Report

In November the UK Government published its response to the Dame Carol Black Report. Their response is contained in the document entitled 'Improving Health and Work: changing lives'.

The response has been overseen by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and the Secretary of State for Health. The Scottish Government has responded separately.

The headline news is the introduction of a new electronic fit note for GPs. The purpose is to encourage a move away from ‘black and white thinking’ on fitness and non-fitness for work. GPs have traditionally completed a ‘sick note’ for an employee who has been unable to work as normal on medical grounds.

Issuing a fit note that focuses on what an individual can do rather than on what they cannot do will hopefully encourage – and empower – the employer to consider by what means they might support the individual to remain in work, through workplace adjustments.

The hope is that this change will encourage a culture where remaining in work in an adjusted role will be encouraged; as part of the treatment and recovery strategy. Work can then be part of the solution; maintaining a person’s routine and their social contact, keeping them engaged with objectives that are within their capability, building up confidence and self-esteem and avoiding the isolation and negative consequences of long term sickness absence.

This fit note has been widely discussed but it remains only one part of a package of measures that were put forward by Dame Carol.

There has been discussion of the limited training and expertise amongst GPs in the arena of work and health and hence a need to strengthen the means by which GPs are supported. Proposals are put forward for a national education programme for GPs.

There will also be measures to support employers. These will include the introduction of health work and wellbeing co-ordinators to help engagement with businesses; the provision of tools to help businesses calculate the business case of health and wellbeing interventions and to measure the return on investment and the development of occupational health advice lines for businesses.

The Government is also supporting a National Centre for Working-Age Health and Well-being. This body will identify evidence gaps and encourage research to fill these gaps.

The Faculty of Occupational Medicine and the Society of Occupational Medicine have responded jointly to welcome the recognition of the positive links between work and health.

The President of the Faculty is quoted as saying 'We particularly applaud [the government's] commitment to working in partnership with health professionals, employers and stakeholders. It is now up to all of us who work in occupational health to ensure that we build on the opportunities presented'.