Dear Colleagues

I hope you have all enjoyed some rest and relaxation over the Christmas break and are now feeling re-charged for the challenges ahead.

The latest news on the ‘flu campaign is very encouraging and reflects a sustained effort by our members.

Colleagues in OH and elsewhere are thinking about the implications of the Green Paper and the possibilities which it could hold for our specialty. Do feed back to your regional reps so that as many of us as possible contribute to the Network’s response.

I am grateful to Hilary Winch for her excellent travelling MoHaWK workshops and encourage you to attend.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year and success for your NHS OH services in 2017!

Best wishes
Anne de Bono
Chair

In this edition:

1. MoHaWK
2. Work Health and Disability Green Paper
3. Network/NHS Improvement joint statement re price caps for agency staff
4. NICE guidance on low back pain
5. Shift work research
6. SEQOHS – 200th accreditation
7. NSOH December newsletter
8. National Heart and Lung Institute courses
9. Network ‘ask a question’
10. Flu fighter update
11. NHS Employers update
12. December/January 2017 Research Plus

The next edition will be published on 1st February 2017.

1. MoHaWK

Round 10 - extended data entry period

Following the London MoHaWK workshop which took place in December and the feedback received about the timings of the autumn round, the deadline for Round 10 has been extended to Friday 13th January 2017.  So do consider getting some data into this Round now that the flu season has passed. It is encouraging to see how many have already submitted data despite the heavy demands on OH services in the NHS this autumn.  Do take a look and try out the new website as part of entering data. It would be good to hear your feedback (hilary.winch@syngentis.co.uk).

Don't forget to register for the 2017 workshops

These workshops are aimed at both MoHaWK users and those who haven't yet used it but want to find out more. There is no cost to attend.

Here are some of the comments received at the conclusion of the London workshop in December:

• I found this workshop very useful - I gained knowledge to take back to the team and have ideas on how to improve our audits.
• Currently not using MoHaWK but looking to start after today
• I have learned that MoHaWK is about more than just entering data. Interesting in linking more with SEQOHS
• Being new to MoHaWK I have found this a very informative event
• Very good - I have learnt a lot and look forward to having a go at round 10!
• Really good day - inspired to reinvigorate audit and MoHaWK
• More workshops needed so that more increase opportunity for staff to understand its importance

Evaluation Scores:

Would you recommend this event to a colleague - 100% yes
Overall satisfaction score - 97%

We still have places available for the workshops on the following dates:

• Manchester - 23rd February
• Bristol - 22nd March
• Leeds - 5th April

If you would like to attend any of the above please register your interest by emailing wendy.coleman@syngentis.co.uk.

2. Work Health and Disability Green Paper

The Network is developing a formal response to the consultation on the Green Paper on ‘Work, Health and Disability: Improving Lives’, which closes in February.

Please take the time to discuss this with your team and send your comments on the attached form to admin@nhshealthatwork.co.uk. Additionally you can make an individual response here.

Free SOM event

The SOM are hosting a free consultation event in York on 31st January around the Green Paper which is open to all (see draft programme attached). To book a place please contact Natalie.Elmitt@som.org.uk. A further event for FOM/SOM members is planned for 9th January.
 
Don’t forget to check the FOM/SOM new website ‘Why Occupational Health’ which was highlighted in the last bulletin. This is part of a campaign to increase the understanding across all health professionals around why it’s important to understand the relationship between health and work.

3. Network/NHS Improvement joint statement re price caps for agency staff

On behalf of our NHS Network Members, Board members recently met with colleagues from NHS Improvement to discuss the impact on occupational health teams of NHS guidance regarding price caps for agency staff.  Please read our joint statement that shares the outcomes from a positive first meeting.  We will keep our Network colleagues informed as matters progress during 2017. If you have any questions or comment, these can be directed to andrew.gilbey@syngentis.co.uk.

4. NICE guidance on low back pain

NICE has recently published new guidance on low back pain. It covers assessing and managing low back pain and sciatica in people aged 16 and over and outlines physical, psychological, pharmacological and surgical treatments to help people manage their low back pain and sciatica in their daily life. The guideline aims to improve people’s quality of life by promoting the most effective forms of care for low back pain and sciatica.

5. Shift work research

Dr Farquhar is a paediatric sleep medicine consultant at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and has done a lot of work regarding the impact of shift work on healthcare professionals. I trust you will find his summary a useful resource.

6. SEQOHS

The SEQOHS accreditation scheme is delighted to award its 200th accreditation to Glenn Raybone, a single-handed occupational health provider based in Dudley.
 
SEQOHS accreditation is awarded to occupational health and occupational health physiotherapy services that meet the SEQOHS standards, which are aimed at improving and sustaining high quality care for workers.
 
SEQOHS accreditation provides independent and impartial recognition that the service provider has objectively demonstrated their competence, and each service that applies for accreditation submits to a rigorous peer review assessment process.
 
The SEQOHS standards were developed by the Faculty of Occupational Medicine in 2009, and the accreditation scheme is managed on its behalf by the Royal College of Physicians.
 
Since its official launch by Dame Carol Black in 2010, SEQOHS has rapidly become an integral part of the occupational health service landscape, accepted in both the public and private sectors as the recognised industry standard.
 
On awarding the service accreditation, Dr Robert Hardman, SEQOHS chair, said: “SEQOHS has now accredited 200 occupational health services since its inception 5 years ago. As with the other 199 services accredited, the Glenn Raybone service has demonstrated the quality of delivery of occupational health. We look forward to working with the service as they demonstrate their ongoing commitment to the quality standards. We also look forward to working with the other services that have registered with SEQOHS and are currently working towards accreditation.”

7. NSOH December newsletter

The December newsletter from the National School of Occupational Health, providing an update on their activities, is now available.

Don’t forget their conference, What Works for Wellbeing’ on Thursday 26th January 2017.
 
This is a multidisciplinary conference open to all trainees, trainers and practitioners working in Occupational Health which gives participants the opportunity to hear from a wide range of Occupational Health leaders who are actively involved in building the evidence base and delivering the interventions that work.
 
See attached flyer for details of the day and click here to register on the conference via Eventbrite.

8. National Heart and Lung Institute courses

A reminder of the courses available from the National Heart and Lung Institute in 2017.

Introductory Medical Statistics course on Thursday 11 - Friday 12 May; registration will open in early January.  Full details are available here.

Occupational Medicine events: 

• Lung Function Testing in the Workplace (Introductory Level) - Tuesday 7 March, Tuesday 11 July, Tuesday 7 November 2017 
• Occupational Asthma Study Day - Tuesday 4 April 2017  
• Lung Function Testing in the Workplace (Intermediate Level) - Tuesday 13 June, Tuesday 21 November 2017 
• Occupational Lung Disease: Keeping Up to Date - Thursday 21 September 2017 
• Workplace Respiratory Surveillance: A Practical Guide - Tuesday 17 October 2017 

Full details of all courses can be seen here.

9. Network ‘ask a question’

Several enquiries were sent out in December, including MRSA screening, data migration from Cohort, and minimising the impact of high bank turnover. Go to our webpage to check out current queries and earlier responses.

10. Flu fighter update

New November uptake figures

Never before have the uptake figures for September to November been this high. The latest data shows that 55.6% of frontline staff have been vaccinated, which amounts to 533,389 people getting the jab. There’s even more good news, as 29 NHS trusts have reached 75 per cent uptake by the end of November, including West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust. This is the first ambulance trust to ever reach 75% uptake - find out how they achieved this here.

11. NHS Employers update

Tackling bullying in the NHS: A collective call to action

The Social Partnership Forum Workforce Issues Group (WIG) has led work to develop a collective call to action to help tackle bullying in the NHS, drawing together evidence and front line experiences which have resulted in a strong case for change. A range of suggested actions supported by resources, advice, guidance and good practice are available to help organisations develop their own plans in partnership to tackle bullying. Take a look at the call to action on the tackling bullying in the NHS web page. You can also find more resources and support for tackling bullying in your organisation on our new tackling bullying webpages.

NHS England sugar levy consultation events

On 9 November 2016, NHS England launched a formal consultation on proposals to reduce sales of sugary drinks on NHS premises. NHS England is holding a number of events for NHS organisations, patients and anyone interested in or likely to be affected by the proposed policies from the general public. Please register for these events with the links below (please only register for one event, places are limited).

• 9th January 2017, London
• 12th January 2017 Leeds 

Webinar: 6th January 2017- for more information please contact england.healthyworkforce@nhs.net

New communications guide

A new communications guide to help you communicate and engage your staff in all things wellbeing has been launched. The guide includes sections on planning your communications, building evaluation into your plan, how to appropriately choose your communications channels and developing a health and wellbeing brand - all while working with your communications colleagues. 

12. December/January 2017 Research Plus

The December/January 2017 edition is now available on the website

The NHS Health at Work Network brings together all OH teams providing health and wellbeing services to NHS OH staff.  It is dedicated to providing consistent, high quality health at work services to all NHS staff through collaborative working.

Members of OH teams in NHS Health at Work Network member organisations can receive the bulletin and access the restricted areas of the website as a membership benefit – if you are not sure of your login details email admin@nhshealthatwork.co.uk. Please share this bulletin with colleagues and encourage them to register to receive it regularly. Non-Network members can also register to receive the monthly bulletin.

You can contact the Network through your regional representative or as shown below. Please get in touch if you have any queries or comments, if there is anything you would like to see in future issues of the bulletin, or if you have news to share.

Dr Anne de Bono, Chair chair@nhshealthatwork.co.uk
Andrew Gilbey, Network Manager andrew.gilbey@syngentis.co.uk
Wendy Coleman, Network Administrator admin@nhshealthatwork.co.uk or wendy.coleman@syngentis.co.uk

Postal address: PO Box 642, BS23 9NG
Tel: 07584 269322