TUC Congress 2007: SoR sponsors motion to get government to do more to look after health workers
Healthcare workers are subject to unprecedented pressures and the
government is failing in its duty as an employer to address the
problems, which include bullying, violence, and work-related
injuries, as well as extreme stress caused by constant organisational
change, the threat of redundancy, vacancy freezes and working in a
target-driven environment.
Andy Pitt, the Society's immediate past president, told the TUC Congress that unless employees are given access to competent occupational health services, the National Health Service is daily moving towards a deepening crisis.
“It is no surprise that NHS employees are leaving the service because they are suffering from high levels of stress related illnesses,” commented Kim Sunley, the health and safety officer for the Society of Radiographers.
“There is also a public safety issue. As a patient would you prefer to be looked after by someone who is happy in their job and can give you proper attention and care because they have the time, or an individual who is stressed. over-tired and is being pulled in a hundred different directions at once?”
She continued: “The government do not seem to understand that unwell and unhappy workers are not going to deliver public service reforms effectively. It is in the employer’s interest to look after their workers, but the government consistently fails to see the obvious benefits.
“We need a pro-active, well-staffed and holistic occupational health service that promotes preventative strategies and effective rehabilitation.”
The concept that people should be actively helped to avoid work- related health problems was raised in the Department of Work and Pensions’ strategy, ‘Health, Work and Wellbeing – Caring for our Future’, published two years’ ago.
The report said: “Many people work in organisations with little or no access to good quality occupational health advice – advice that can be essential in helping employers to manage risk and to protect and promote the health and well-being of employees. Our strategy will increase the number of people whose workplaces have access to occupational health support aimed at reducing the number who suffer from work-related ill health.”
The government must do more and act on the report’s recommendations.
Posted: 12/09/2007
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