Sustainability and Occupational Health Flashcards
definition of sustainability
able to continue over a period of time
why is global sustainability important to healthcare?
maternal inequality population and consumption resource depletion climate change loss of biodiversity crisis in healthcare
action that could be taken to help with climate change
increase use of renewable energy resources
modifying human behaviour, being more active
move back to more plant based diet
educate on carbon literacy and numeracy
promote patient resilience
teach healthcare students that as well as human anatomical systems
sustainability in the NHS: low carbon clinical care
prioritise environmental health
substitute harmful chemicals with safer alternatives. reduce and safely dispose of waste
use energy efficiently and switch to renewable energy reduce water consumption
improve travel strategies
puchase and serve sustainably grown foot
safely manage and dispose of pharmaceuticals
adopt greener building design and construction. purchase safer more sustainable products
what would low carbon clinical care look like:
be better at preventing conditions
give greater responsibility to patients in managing their health
be leaner in service design and delivery
use the lowest carbon technologies
occupational history
A description of the present and previous jobs from leaving school.
Identifying any exposure to chemicals or other hazards ( may need to see confirmation from labels).
Did the symptoms improve when not exposed e.g. at weekends, holidays?
Determine the duration and intensity of exposure e.g. was it so noisy it was impossible to communicate
Is personal protection used e.g. what kind of mask?
What maintenance is in place for the protection measures?
Do others suffer similar symptoms?
Are there known environmental hazards in use?
Any hobbies, pets, worked overseas, moonlighting?
Can you achieve this in 10 minutes? Not all questions would be appropriate at every consultation.
information on the fit note
This replaced the ‘sick note ‘ in April 2010.
It’s purpose is to facilitate earlier discussion about returning to work and about rehabilitation.
It now includes items of consideration for employers when signing a patient’s return to work.
It can only be completed by a Doctor
It is advice to patients as employees, is not binding on the employer and does not affect Statutory Sick Pay
It is required if the patient has been off more than 7 consecutive days ( including non working days)
occuptational health
Occupational health specialists are ideally and uniquely placed to support and help people stay in work and live full and healthy lives.
They play a key role in ensuring the health and well being of the working population by preventing work-related ill health and providing specialist rehabilitation advice.
They provide independent, impartial advice to employers and employees on the effects of work on health and the effects of health on work.
For example, the opinion of an occupational health specialist might be crucial in determining how to manage a capability issue or in providing key evidence in a claim to an employment tribunal. As well as addressing issues that occur, a lot of the work of an occupational health service is proactive, aiming to reduce potential problems in the workplace.
Occupational Health Services:
Help prevent work-related ill health
Advise on fitness for work, workplace safety, the prevention of occupational injuries and disease
Recommend appropriate adjustments in the workplace to help people stay in work
Improve the attendance and performance of the workforce – for example by assisting in the management of sickness absence
Provide rehabilitation to help people return to work, and give advice on alternative suitable work for people with health problems
Promote health in the workplace and healthy lifestyles
Recommend and implement appropriate policies to maintain a safe and healthy workplace
Conduct research into work related health issues
Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations including minimising and eliminating workplace hazards
Advise on medical health and ill-health retirement
Modern occupational health requires a multidisciplinary approach where doctors work alongside a range of associated healthcare professionals including nurses, ergonomists, hygienists, occupational health advisors, physiotherapists, psychiatrists, psychologists and therapists.
the effect of unemplyment on health
There is a strong association between worklessness and poor health. This may be partly a health selection effect, but it is also to a large extent cause and effect. There is strong evidence that unemployment is generally harmful to health, including:
Higher mortality;
Poorer general health, long-standing illness, limiting longstanding illness;
Poorer mental health, psychological distress, minor psychological/psychiatric morbidity;
Higher medical consultation, medication consumption and hospital admission rates.
There is strong evidence that re-employment leads to improved self-esteem, improved general and mental health, and reduced psychological distress and minor psychiatric morbidity. The magnitude of this improvement is more or less comparable to the adverse effects of job loss.
