BMJ 1995;311:691 (9 September)

Letters

Occupational health pilot study finds unmet need

EDITOR,--We endorse Anthony Seaton's suggestions regarding occupational medicine,1 but the current staffing and structure of the NHS occupational health departments seem unlikely to be able to meet the demands of their surrounding communities. What is to happen in the interim?

Our pilot occupational health project found that 61 (13%) of 474 patients interviewed in general practice surgeries were visiting their general practitioner because of health problems related to work; this is higher than the national findings (7%) reported by the Health and Safety Executive.2 3 Altogether 191 of the patients interviewed reported ill health resulting from their current or previous jobs, and 400 of the patients reported their lack of access to an occupational health service.

Providing only an outpatient referral service for local doctors as a measure to improve the mechanisms for managing ill health related to work will be inadequate. Programmes to increase awareness among general practitioners are needed, . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Article

Diagnosing and managing occupational disease
Anthony Seaton
BMJ 1995 310: 1282. [Extract] [Full Text]

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