Prevention better than cure when it comes to workplace health, say physios

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) welcomes the recognition given to improving workplace health in the Government's new public health white paper. With Health and Safety Executive figures showing that sickness absence costs British society up to ?30 billion per year, the CSP says it is high time the Government prioritised occupational health.

CSP Chair of Council Grahame Pope said:

'All workers should feel confident that their work environment is not harmful to their health. Direct access to physiotherapists who can assess workplaces and advise employers on health and safety can make dramatic inroads to reduce our shocking incapacity benefit statistics - which show that there are currently half a million people off work and claiming benefits for musculoskeletal disorders. 'Even when preventative measures are taken, there will always be some need for further physiotherapy intervention. Evidence suggests that the longer people are off work with musculoskeletal conditions, the less likely they are to make a successful return at all. Therefore, swift access to physiotherapists, who can provide effective rehabilitation, is imperative. Furthermore, the needs of the long-term sick who are unemployed must not be ignored, if the aim is to truly improve the public health of all.'

Ensuring employees are fit to work - a physiotherapy case study

Every year 25,000 people stop work for good because of work-related illness. Helping them back to work and preventing others from having to quit are key priorities. One NHS trust found specialist physiotherapy and rehabilitation services a quick and effective way of helping injured staff get back to work. East Anglian Ambulance referred 18 staff who were off work with serious back injuries to Bury Physio Rehabworks in Bury St Edmonds. Treatment consisted of a blend of physiotherapy, exercise, muscle building and lessons to teach health workers how to lift properly and control their pain. They were also taught stretching exercises to tackle any subsequent twinges. After 4-6 weeks of treatment, most injuries were healed and many staff returned to work stronger than they were before they became injured. All but two of the injured staff returned to work full time and managers are confident that Rehabworks has saved the trust hundreds of thousands of pounds in sick pay.

We hope this information is helpful. Please feel free to phone us for further information about our clinic, or for an appointment with one of our specialised physiotherapists. For further information, look on the web site of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy at

WWW.CSP.ORG.UK

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