Health and Work
The RCGP is implementing a National Education Programme of
half-day workshops to improve professional standards in general
practice in the area of health and work.
Rationale
There is considerable evidence that enabling people to return to
work is good for their long-term health, and that worklessness can
cause poor health and health inequality. Many patients require
active support to be able to return to work or to continue working
with a medical condition and, for the majority, GPs are the trusted
first point of contact and guidance for those with such health
problems. Doctors have a duty of care to act in the best interests
of their patient but there is evidence that GPs find this area
particularly challenging and may be unsure of what they and the
general practice team should do. This can be a source of conflict
in the consultation.
Programme Content
The workshops have been developed by GPs specifically for GPs.
The content builds on the Health and Work Handbook, a
document produced by the RCGP, the Faculty of Occupational
Medicine, and the Society of Occupational Medicine.
The workshops were successfully piloted by the RCGP in six
locations throughout Great Britain in July 2007. Subsequently, the
College was commissioned to deliver the programme nationally.
The National Education Programme begins in June 2009 and will be
made available across Great Britain. Around 100-150 workshops will
be delivered by the College's local and regional Faculty offices in
the period to March 2011, with the aim of providing training and
support for 3000-4,500 GPs.
The workshops are designed to be interactive and offer recent
evidence about work and health - along with skills and strategies
for managing difficult consultations. The workshops will be chaired
by a local leader and delivered by an RCGP-trained GP and
specialist Occupational Health Physician.
Up to date information about the latest workshop locations, can
be found here.
Further information about the programme, can be found
here.