BMJ 1994;309:1020 (15 October)

Letters

Occupational health departments can help and be trusted

EDITOR, - On the basis of my experiences in practising occupational medicine within the NHS I agree with Liam J Donaldson's assertion that many doctors perceive occupational health departments as irrelevant to them and as having too close a relationship with management.1 This perception stems from a basic lack of understanding about the practise of occupational medicine and occupational health and also about the workings of a modern NHS occupational health department.

Most doctors come into contact with occupational health departments only when they start a new job or when they are called for vaccinations. This is despite the fact that most departments now provide a comprehensive range of services to other members of staff. Doctors' lack of contact with occupational health departments is probably because until recently they did not fully understand their management responsibilities within a multidisciplinary organisation and were oblivious to the fact that health and safety . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Article

Sick doctors
L J Donaldson
BMJ 1994 309: 557-558. [Extract] [Full Text]

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