Dr Susan Robson, Chairman of the Occupational Health CommitteeSpeech to ARM 2005
30 June 2005
Chairman/RB
The Committee represents specialists and non-specialist occupational physicians working both inside and outside the NHS and we have had a busy year dealing with their concerns and a number of relevant and important issues.
Whilst we still await the final guidance from the Department of Health on 'Health Clearance for Serious Communicable Diseases' it seems likely that the range of screening for blood borne viruses for all new health care workers involved with exposure-prone procedures will be extended and be introduced for new medical students from the September 2006 intake.
Such screening will be the responsibility of occupational health services to medical schools and the Committee has therefore contributed to a Council of Heads of Medical Schools Stakeholder Group developing appropriate guidance for medical schools on the logistics of the new arrangements.
I must stress here that all involved are in agreement that any such screening should not be compulsory and confidentiality should be upheld at all times.
When published we look forward to working with the other BMA Committees involved in responding to the Department’s definitive guidance.
In line with BMA policy and together with our GP colleagues, we are proposing to the Department for Work and Pensions that the present requirement for sick certification by doctors and its proposed extension to other health care workers should be abandoned to be replaced with a policy of full sickness self-certification with the facility for random audits as with the present tax system. In the next few months we plan to lobby the Department for Work and Pensions requesting that they undertake a comprehensive review of the system.
Over the last year we have seen a number of hospital acquired infections and specifically MRSA rise to the top of the political agenda. The Committee feels strongly that this issue should not be used as a political football and we have become dismayed by much of the distortion which has taken place in the media.
The Committee, through its Deputy Chairman, Paul Grime, has been pro-active in compiling and promoting a voluntary code of practice on hand hygiene and has been working with BMA News to seek sponsorship in order to publicise the code.
In responding to the media on behalf of the Association, Paul has continually stressed the importance of a profession promoting good infection control and I would like to thank him personally for the hard work he has invested in this important area.
Both the Occupational Health and the Professional Fees Committee have been made aware of the rising number of complaints against doctors being received by the GMC. This is certainly a significant problem for occupational physicians who are increasingly subject to what can only be considered “vexatious” complaints predominantly following consultations where the doctor has provided a professional opinion which has financial implications for the patient, such as qualification for ill-health retirement, pension and other benefits. This is extremely distressing for the doctor concerned and since the introduction of the new initial investigation procedures and actions by the GMC in November 2004 is not only damaging commercially but the process leaves the doctor feeling that he or she is perceived as guilty until the usually long drawn out procedures have been completed. As a result a significant number are reluctant to undertake what is an essential area of work.
I am grateful to the Chairman of Council and of the Professional Fees Committee for joining me in taking this matter forward in seeking GMC co-operation in resolving the problem.
Among a long list of additional work we have updated our annual guidance on occupational physicians’ salaries which reflects the contractual arrangements within the NHS. The supplement relates not only to employed doctors but those working as self-employed practitioners and a rapidly increasing number employed by commercial occupational health providers.
- We have been re-writing the Association’s Guidance to Members on the occupational implications of Hepatitis B and C
- Are continuing to work with the British Dental Association in promoting occupational health services to their members.
- And, we are lobbying on the issues around the use of latex gloves and safer needles.
I firmly believe that whilst the Committee appears to represent only a relatively small group of members of the Association, we provide a valuable service to others, many of whom are GPs, working part-time in this area.
Occupational Health is very much a generalist speciality and as a result our advice has proved useful and relevant to many issues under consideration by other BMA committees.
Finally, I have decided that it is time for me to stand down as Chairman of the Committee after four stimulating and fulfilling years although I do so with the hope that my successor will allow me to continue to contribute.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Pensions and Public Health Secretariats both of which have supported me during my time in Office and I would like to give special thanks to Jackie Brodie and Andy Blake and, more recently, to David Algie who has been a tower of strength to me during the last sixteen months.
Chairman I move.
