Fitness for Work and Return to Work Flashcards
What was the of sickness absence to the UK economy in 2010?
£17 billion
What was the cost of sickness absence to the NHS in 2009?
£1.7 billion
List 5 advantages of reemployment (Waddell and Burton 2006).
1 - Improves mental health.
2 - Reduces psychological distress and minor psychiatric morbidity.
3 - Reduces the risk of long-term sickness.
4 - Minimises the harmful physical, mental and social effects of long-term sickness.
5 - Improves quality of life.
What proportion of cases of work-related ill health are reported?
0.3%.
What is the aim of a fitness for work assessment?
To ensure that the individual is fit to perform the tasks required for their job effectively and without a risk to their own or to others’ health and safety.
List 5 reasons for why fitness for work assessments are necessary.
1 - The patient’s condition may limit them from performing their job effectively.
2 - The patient’s condition may be made worse by their job.
3 - The patient’s condition may make their job unsafe to them.
4 - The patient’s condition may make their job unsafe to others.
5 - The patient’s condition may make their job unsafe to the community.
Who can refer an employee for a fitness to work assessment?
1 - Self-referral.
2 - Management.
3 - Human resources.
Who is responsible for assessing fitness to start work?
Who is responsible for assessing fitness to return to work?
- The employer is responsible for assessing fitness to start work.
- A GP is involved in assessing fitness to return to work.
List 3 questions a GP should ask to determine fitness to return to work.
1 - Does the patient want to return to work?
2 - Does the patient need to be symptom free before returning to work?
3 - Is work feasible?
List 3 factors to consider for a patient returning to work.
1 - Identify and monitor ongoing risks.
2 - Consider whether the employee makes effective use of rehabilitation and health facilities.
3 - Consider management commitment to the employee’s rehabilitation.
List 4 aims of an occupational health assessment.
1 - To determine the effects of work on health.
2 - To determine the effects of health on work.
3 - To recommend workplace adjustments required for employees to work safely.
4 - To ensure that work complies with the Equality Act of 2010.
List 6 questions an employer may ask a GP regarding an employee who is unfit to work.
1 - When is the likely date of return to work?
2 - WIll there be any residual disability upon return to work?
3 - Will disability be permanent or temporary?
4 - Will the employee be able to provide regular efficient service?
5 - What duties would you recommend that the employee does not do, and for how long?
6 - WIll the employee require continued treatment upon return to work?
Give an example of a tool used to monitor the severity of depression and response to treatment.
PHQ-9 (patient health questionnaire 9).
Give an example of a self-administered patient questionnaire that is used as a measure for generalised anxiety disorder.
GAD7 (general anxiety disorder assessment 7).
Give an example of a test designed for the detection of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.
Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA).
What type of vehicles are included in group 1 of the UK medical standards for driver licencing applications?
Do these applications require medical assessments?
- Cars and motorcycles.
- These applications don’t require medical assessments.
What type of vehicles are included in group 2 of the UK medical standards for driver licencing applications?
Do these applications require medical assessments?
- Large lorries and buses.
- These applications do require medical assessments.
List 3 roles of doctors concerning fitness to drive.
1 - Advise the individual on the impact of their medical condition for safe driving.
2 - Advise the individual on their legal requirements to notify the DVLA of any relevant conditions.
3 - Notify the DVLA when the individual cannot or will not notify the DVLA about any relevant conditions themselves (although doctors are not legally obliged to alert the DVLA; this is the driver’s responsibility).
List 6 factors that should be taken into consideration for a fitness for work assessment regarding the effects of work on health.
DETTOL:
1 - Demands of the job (physical, intellectual etc.).
2 - Environment (dusts, chemicals, etc.).
3 - Temporal (shifts, early starts etc.).
4 - Travel.
5 - Organisational (lone-working, presence of customers etc.).
6 - Layout (ergonomic aspects, workstation, equipment etc.).
List 8 factors that should be taken into consideration for a fitness for work assessment regarding the effects of health on work.
SMARTIES:
1 - Stamina (to work full time and to meet physical demands).
2 - Mobility (walking, bending etc.).
3 - Agility (dexterity, posture and coordination).
4 - Rational (mental state and mood).
5 - Treatment (side effects and duration).
6 - Intellectual (cognitive abilities).
7 - Essential for job.
8 - Sensory aspects.
List 4 outcomes of a fitness for work assessment.
1 - Fit for work.
2 - Unfit for work.
3 - Fit for work with restrictions or adjustments.
4 - Cannot make assessment without further information.
List 8 examples of workplace modifications.
1 - Encourage reduced hours.
2 - Change patterns of shifts.
3 - Change work content.
4 - Adapt the layout of the workplace.
5 - Reduce the pace of work, e.g. by having more frequent or longer breaks.
6 - Adapt equipment.
7 - Provide training.
8 - Provide facilities for mobility and transport.
