Sustainability and Occupational Health Flashcards
What are the domains of global sustainability?
Material Inequality
Population and Consumption
Resource Depletion
Climate Change
Loss of Biodiversity
Crisis in Healthcare
What action can be taken against global warming?
Increase use of renewable energy resources ( that is any natural energy resource that can be replenished with the passage of time)
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 we are also part of a wider ecological system
How can the NHS be more eco friendly?
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
Purchase and serve sustainably grown food
Safely manage and dispose of pharmaceuticals
Adopt greener building design and construction. Purchase safer more sustainable products
What will 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
What are the changes to the GP contract 2018?
Reduced workload
Improved recreuitment
Additional members will become part of the practice team - allowing the GPs to fullfill their role
Changes in staff and funding to promote sustainability
What is the difference betwen sustainability and resilience?
Cambridge Dictionary definition of resilience is the ability to “Quickly return to a previous good condition.”
The Cambridge dictionary defines sustainability the ability to be “Able to continue over a period of time”
What are the positive factors that might contribute to a sustainable career?
Positive Factors - including
Job Security
Financial Security
Stable Terms and Conditions
Respect for Professionalism and Knowledge.
Appreciation for being in the role of a doctor.
Working with a team over time.
Ability to develop knowledge and interests.
Ability to fit work around interests and lifestyle choices.
What are challenges to a sustainable job?
Challenges – including
Considerable and rapid workload – for example 10 minute appointments
Time management.
Increasingly complex care over time.
Relentless arrival of mail and blood results, and having enough time to action them diligently.
Care versus cure - long term conditions
Perhaps running a business over time.
Need to ensure the team is harmonious and effective.
What are potential questions in an 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?
What is the purpose of a fit note?
Facilitate earlier discussion about returning to work and about rehabilitation
Should encourage the employer to consider things such as phased return, adjusted hours, daptations to the work place and/or ammendments of duties
What is the role of occupatinal health?
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
How is unemployment harmful to health?
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.
