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Early intervention keeps Phil on course
Wednesday, 18 August 2010
Category:
Health and Wellbeing
The news that World No 2 golfer Phil Mickelson has been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis brings into sharp relief the importance of the early diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory conditions if people are to stand the best chance of living normal lives and staying in work.
While the signs are that Phil Mickelson has been able to get access to diagnosis and treatment in good time, and that he has been able to keep playing golf at the highest level, for others with inflammatory disease the story isn’t always so positive.
The Work Foundation’s Fit for Work initiative has examined some of the literature on psoriatic arthritis and found that up to 33 % of PsA patients reported losing their jobs as a result of their condition. Moreover, a survey conducted in the UK by the Psoriatic Arthropathy Alliance (PAA) – now the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance (Papaa) – found that 27 per cent of their members with PsA had experienced ‘job discrimination’ as a result of their condition.
But there is evidence that vocational rehabilitation interventions which focus on job retention among workers with rheumatic conditions – including PsA and ankylosing spondylitis – can protect against job loss. These interventions, which concentrated on supporting job accommodation, vocational counselling and self-advocacy, were found to be effective in promoting job retention 3-5 years after they were initiated.
The Fit for Work initiative is continuing to campaign for earlier clinical and workplace interventions to enable those who develop these conditions to remain in or return to work.
Stephen Bevan
Thoughts on the Work Capability Assessment scheme
Friday, 06 August 2010
Category:
Health and Wellbeing
Last week the DWP released figures about the number of new claimants who have been found fit for work under the new Work Capability Assessment scheme. The assessments place claimants into three groups: support group, work-related activity group and fit for work. Those who are found fit for work are no longer eligible for employment and support allowance.
Robin McGee
The vanishing DRA
Thursday, 29 July 2010
Category:
Health and Wellbeing
By phasing out the Default Retirement Age of 65 the UK is merely addressing the inevitable adjustments to the future experience of work.
Wilson Wong
Is work ruining our lives?
Wednesday, 28 July 2010
Category:
Health and Wellbeing
On Wednesday 21 July, I chaired the 4th Annual Relate Lecture given this year by its new President, Professor Cary Cooper of the University of Lancaster....
Stephen Bevan
Take a break
Friday, 11 June 2010
Category:
Health and Wellbeing
How often do you work through your lunch? According to a survey from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP) about a quarter of UK workers regularly do not take a break during the day.
Robin McGee
Are lunch breaks for wimps?
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
Category:
Health and Wellbeing
Believe it or not, last week I was quoted in an article in the Daily Mail which was marking the 30th anniversary of the Marks & Spencer sandwich.
Stephen Bevan
Volcanic Ash!
Friday, 23 April 2010
Category:
Health and Wellbeing
Wow! What a trip. Last Wednesday, I went to Stockholm to present the pan-European Fit for Work report at the 1st Baltic & North Sea Conference on Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. I was scheduled to return Thursday afternoon, but needless to say the volcano disrupted my return travel plans.
Robin McGee
Sick and at work?
Thursday, 15 April 2010
Category:
Health and Wellbeing
At a well attended event this morning we launched the findings of our new report, Why do employees come to work when ill?
Katherine Ashby
Nursing a headache?
Thursday, 25 March 2010
Category:
Health and Wellbeing
The NHS yesterday announced over £4bn in efficiency savings, including ambitious targets to reduce staff sickness absence. Commenting on these plans, Vince Cable – the Lib Dem Treasury spokesman - queried the feasibility of these and asked "And how do you make nurses not be ill?...".
Stephen Bevan
2010: A year of action
Monday, 08 February 2010
Category:
Health and Wellbeing
Tonight I am speaking at The Work Foundation’s Health at Work reception, where the focus is on 2010 as a ‘Year of Action’ in the health and well-being arena.....
Dame Carol Black, national director for health and work