NHS Health And Wellbeing Review Launches 'Call For Evidence', UK

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 22 Apr 2009 - 6:00 PDT

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The independent review into the health and well-being of the NHS Workforce, the Boorman Review, today launches its national 'Call for Evidence'.

The review sets out to investigate the health and well-being of NHS staff, and the ways in which these are currently managed and improved. The review will aim to produce a series of practical recommendations to improve health and well-being across the NHS, and it will report later this year.

The 'Call for Evidence' is asking trusts, leaders and experts from across the NHS, together with key stakeholders, to provide information on the health of the workforce. Evidence is needed on which management approaches, policies and initiatives which have been effective so far - and which have failed. Occupational health and other support services provided to the NHS workforce in England will also be reviewed. The full 'Call for Evidence' is as follows:

1. Do you think workplace health and well-being practices and initiatives - whether driven by occupational health, management or HR - make a positive difference to staff? If so, do you have any evidence to support this?

2. What do you think are the barriers to the implementation, or long-term success of health and well-being practices and initiatives? What examples, evidence or reasons can you provide?

3. Do you have any statistical data or information relating to staff health and well-being in the NHS that you could submit? This may include, but not be limited to, sickness absence rates and the reasons for absences, and the impact of poor health on work performance?

4. Is there evidence of inconsistencies in the way staff health and well-being are supported and delivered across the NHS? If so, do these inconsistencies lead to inequalities in the ability of different staff groups to access health and well-being support and services, and are there varying outcomes as a result?

5. Do you have evidence relating to effective short-term measures to improve staff health and well-being? What could be done to improve staff health and well-being in the long-term?

6. What evidence do you have of NHS workforce understanding, perception, and experience of using occupational health services? What should be done to improve staff experience, perceptions or the effectiveness of these services?

7. What should 'success' for NHS staff health and well-being look like? How should it be measured?

8. How can managers and leaders across the NHS be motivated to take action to ensure that sustainable improvements are made to staff health and well-being in their organisation? What data or incentives should form part of the business case for change?

In addition to responses to the 'Call for Evidence', from both organisations and individuals, the review will draw on relevant existing data where it exists both inside and outside of the NHS.

Included in the review will also be a piece of NHS staff perception work directly with the workforce, which will begin on 27th April 2009. It is anticipated that this multi-layered approach will provide the review with detailed information that will inform the basis of our case for change to improve health and well-being.

The NHS Health and Well-being Review was announced in November 2008 as part of the Government's response to Dame Carol Black's report on the health of the UK's entire working-age population, which noted the importance of keeping people healthy at work, and on helping them return to work if they get ill.

The review also builds on the clear commitments made in the NHS Constitution to maintain the health and well-being of all NHS staff. One of the constitution's central pledges to staff is to provide support and opportunities for staff to maintain their health, well-being and safety.

Dr. Steve Boorman, Lead Reviewer, said:
"This review is a vital opportunity for everyone across the NHS Workforce - from hospital porters to SHA Chief Executives - to have their say on the quality of health and well-being in the NHS workforce.

In commissioning this review, the NHS has demonstrated an admirable commitment to ensuring the well-being of its workforce. As the Next Stage Review makes clear, the well-being of the workforce is crucial to delivering high quality care.

To best determine how we can preserve the health of a workforce that gives so much, we need a broad base of evidence. We are calling for all NHS trusts, and NHS staff to answer this call, and help make our recommendations as practical and extensive as possible."

Dame Carol Black said:
"I am very pleased that the NHS review into the health and well-being of NHS staff is starting. The NHS has the largest workforce in the UK and has a key role in promoting a culture of improved health and well-being amongst their staff, where everyone has the opportunity to participate in work and make a difference to the quality of their own, and other people's lives. I encourage staff to contribute to the work of this important review that has great potential to benefit staff and patients alike".

Source
Department of Health, UK

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