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This section offers British health news briefs. The annual conference of the Health at Work Network of the British National Health Service (NHS) was held in September 2013 in Nottingham, England. Research indicates a strong link between the wellbeing of NHS staff and the quality of patient care. The Council for Work and Health (CWH) has set up the OH Future Workforce Project, which includes proposals for educating allied workplace health professions in occupational health (OH) skills.

The article analyzes the British government's initiative to review the sickness absence system in Great Britain. It discusses the context of the review as it links sickness absence to the state's burden to provide claims for chronic illnesses. Employment laws and the need to reduce bureaucracy for employers and employees have also been factored into the review. The article also notes that the review aims to improve employees' access to occupational health (OH) services, and to enhance partnerships in the modernization and delivery of OH. INSET: WHAT THE REVIEW WILL COVER.

The article presents a roundtable discussion which addressed the issuses discuss sickness absence management in the workplace. The participants in the discussion that is organized by Axa Icas Wellbeing include Doctor Mark Simpson of Axa Icas, Doctor Paul Nicholson of Procter and Gamble, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development's Ben Willmott, and Axa Icas' David Prosser. The topics that are discussed include the effect of absence policies and the most effective form of absence notification.

The article discusses the Business in the Community's (BITC) Business Action on Health (BAH) campaign that intends to bring the issue of employee wellness to the boardroom of corporations. Louise Aston, director of BAH, points out that organizations must realize the benefits of productivity and the financial rewards that result from investing in employee wellness. A BITC Health and Work Summit will be held on May 12, 2009 in London, England.

The article reports on the 2016 Institute for Employment Studies (IES) annual conference on occupational health. Stephen Bevan, head of human resourse research at IES, reflected on the progress towards getting work and well-being on the agenda. A bio-psychosocial approach to workforce health can help deliver the best outcomes for people with multi-morbid conditions.

In this article author discusses his journey as editor of the periodical and thanking the journal's editorial advisors and also mentions about the role of the periodical which focused on work-related ill health, assessing fitness for work and case management of employees returning to work.

The article focuses on the long-term strategic approach taken by greetings card company Hallmark which aims to encourage employees to start and maintain healthy behaviour. Topics discussed include the coverage of the healthcare program of the company, called Hallmark Health Rewards, its employee financial incentives, and the challenge of corporate wellbeing programmes in sustaining employee commitment.

The article reports on the Association of Occupational Health Nurse Practitioners (AOHNP) and its 2014 annual meeting and good practice forum in London, England held in November 2014 which focused on having a single voice for Occupational Health (OH) in the country. Topics include the outgoing message from AOHNP president Christina Butterworth, the failure of the Society of Occupational Medicine and Faculty of Occupational Medicine to combine, and the pilot for nurse revalidation.

The article offers information on merger of the Association of Occupational Health Nurse Practitioners (AOHNP) with Faculty of Occupational Medicine, and mentions AOHNP president Lucy Kenyon's views on setting of standards for practice and education.

The article reports on the highlights of the joint conference of the Society of Occupational Medicine and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) which was held in Brighton, England on October 18-19, 2010. According to Peter Carter, RCN chief executive and general secretary, occupational health provision should not be affected by the Spending Review of the British government. Another speaker was Dame Carol Black, national director for work and health, who urged occupational health doctors and nurses to expand their voice on the government's economic reforms.

The article reports that spirometry is a frequent topic among occupational health practitioners. Online chat forums host conversations about the standards, guidance and evidence base for practice, the legal requirements for recording results, the level, and frequency of training needed to use the equipment. The company only became the manufacturers of the equipment after failing to find an existing medical devices company to produce it under licence.

The article reports that an online poll of 1,429 OH nurses on the development of a Faculty of Occupational Health Nursing (FOHN) shows overwhelming support for its development. It states that the Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AOHNP) UK has tried to fill the vacuum, raising questions about the future remit of the AOHNP.

The article reports on the call by Dr. Steve Boorman for the National Health Service (NHS) of Great Britain to prioritize staff health and wellbeing in its mission and operational approach. According to NHS Health and Wellbeing Review, 10 million working days are lost annually to sickness absence in the NHS and that occupational health (OH) service quality is inconsistent. The review recommends the creation of a national minimum standard of OH services, use of performance metrics and improvement of wellness provision and early intervention services.

The article discusses the highlights of the RCN Society of Occupational Health Nursing conference held in Great Britain. National director for health and work Dame Carol Black called on occupational health (OH) to take a leading role in the government's plans to boost the health of working-age people and raise awareness of the value of OH to business. She criticised silo working and encouraged OH to co-operate with general practitioners (GP) in their patients' interests.

An introduction to the journal is presented in which the editor discusses a report by the faculty development group for the forthcoming Faculty of Occupational Health Nursing (FOHN) proposing major changes to occupational health (OH) nurse education and regulation.

An interview with Professor David Coggon, president of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine (FOM), is presented. He explains that the FOM serves the public by promoting best practice in occupational health. When asked about his views on standards for occupational health (OH) practitioners and providers, Coggon shares that the main focus of the faculty has been on professional standards for individual practitioners. He highlights the challenge in having a huge medical literature for individual practitioners who are checking scientific evidence.

The article presents the highlights of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Society of Occupational Health Nursing (SOHN) conference held in Harrogate, England in November 2006. Occupational health (OH) leaders gave advice on public health issues and improving access to OH services. Professor Dame Carol Black stated her plan to build links between workplace and the National Health Service (NHS). Bill Gunnyeon, director at the Department for Work and Pension, called for nurses take an active role in expanding OH services.

The article focuses on the differences between the employee health and wellbeing programs offered by employers in the U.S. and Great Britain. Topics discussed include the wellbeing programs of U.S. companies driven by healthcare insurance costs, private medical insurance offered by British firms to cover the treatment of unforeseen short-term medical conditions, and the financial incentives offered by U.S. firms for employees who reduce health risks.

The article announces the retirement of Greta Thornbory as continuing professional development (CPD) editor of the periodical "Occupational Health."

The article reports the aim by occupational health (OH) nurses in Great Britain as of April 2015 to establish a new Faculty of Occupational Health Nursing in the next three years.

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue on topics including the statement of National Health Services England chief executive Simon Stevens on employer tax breaks under the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence program and a survey by the General Medical Council on the retirement of occupational health doctors.

An introduction to the journal is presented in which the editor discusses several reports published within the issue, including one on the winners of the 2013 Occupational Health Awards, one on occupational health (OH) professionals joining their colleagues to plan for changing health priorities and needs, and one on a review of the law on health surveillance.

The author reflects on the developments in the nursing profession in the Great Britain, particularly the replacement of the post-registration education and practice (PREP) with a revalidation system.

The article discusses the recommendations of a government review of sickness absence. The mechanics of a new independent assessment service that would take over return-to-work assessment from general practitioners (GPs) is explained in response to the inability of GPs to do in-depth functional assessment. The coverage of the proposed tax relief for employers is presented along with the function of a new government-backed job-brokering service.

The article discusses various reports published within the issue including a review on the management of workplace absence, and on East Lothian Council winning the 2011 Occupational Health Awards.

The article discusses the highlights of the meeting of the Thames Valley Group of occupational health (OH) nurses held in September 2011. The theme of the meeting was the challenge of supporting employees with mental health problems to return to, and stay in, work. Line-management training and practices expert Neville Richardson cited the need for managers to work with OH practitioners in a much more proactive way.

The article focuses on the changes proposed by the Task and Finish Group for the National Health Service (NHS) occupational health (OH) services. The Group is suggesting that NHS OH services will be changed to NHS occupational health and wellbeing centres. It also recommends the establishment of a Wellbeing Improvement Framework to monitor productivity savings. It is noted that the proposed changes are aimed at improving the efficiency and quality of NHS OH services.

The article discusses the highlights of the "Reconfiguring of NHS Occupational Health and Wellbeing Services--Now Is the Time" conference held in London, England in January 2011. The conference tackled various issues concerning the National Health Service (NHS) occupational health services and the public health priorities and funding reform in Great Britain. It highlighted the opinions of John Harrison, director of NHS Plus, and the leaders of the Task and Finish Group on occupational health services.

The article presents the highlights of a conference organised by the Faculty of Occupational Medicine in London, England in December 2010, which focused on improving the quality of occupational health (OH) in Great Britain. The Safe Effective Quality Occupational Health Service (SEQOHS) accreditation scheme for OH providers was launched during the event. Speakers at the event included Sian Williams of the Health and Work Development Unit (HWDU), who discussed national clinical audit programmes for National Health Service (NHS) OH providers. INSETS: WHAT THE PAPER SAYS;STAGES TO SEQOHS ACCREDITATION.

The section offers an introduction to several articles and topics within the issue of "Occupational Health," including a survey by general practitioner (GP) Dr. James Heffer about an obstacle to leadership in occupational health, a discussion on problems facing nurse education, and a report on the proposals for a reconfiguration of services provided by Great Britain's National Health Service (NHS).

The article discusses the highlights of the Health and Wellbeing at Work conference held in Birmingham, Great Britain in March 2010. National director for work and health Dame Carol Black urged the participants to make the workplace a place to resolve health problems and inequalities whether they are work-related or not. Chief nursing officer Dame Christine Beasley provided assurance to occupational health nurses (OHNs) that she will help improve their profile in the nursing profession.

The article reports on the decision of Nestlé to modify its occupational health (OH) service using electronic medical records and reduce sickness absence.

The article reports on the negative impact of the target-based approach implemented by Great Britain National Health Service (NHS) on employees.

The article offers information on the fit note or Statement of Fitness for Work form that will replace the Med 3 sick note in Great Britain starting April 6, 2010. The fit note was designed to urge doctors to cite functional limitations related to a patient's condition and suggest ways to help them return to work. It allows general practitioners (GP) to offer advice on adjustments that an employer can implement to help an employee to return to work. The relevance of the fit note form to occupational health is also discussed.

The article highlights the views of Steve Jupp, staff engagement lead of Great Britain Department of Health, on the efficacy of employee engagement and team work in improving patient care.

The article reports on the decision of Capital Health Solutions to close 15 of its clinics and downsize its workforce in an effort to restructure its business.

The article highlights the views of Steve Boorman, author of a major review into the health of National Health Service (NHS) workers in 2009, on the need for NHS occupational health (OH) staff to work with human resources (HR) to improve awareness of occupational health (OH) and enhance staff wellbeing.

The article reports on the outcomes of the reform of the occupational health (OH) services in Mid-Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust in Great Britain.

The article announces that the fit note form will be used starting April 6, 2010 to replace the Med 3 sicknote in Great Britain.

The author discusses reports published within the issue, including one on the 2009 Occupational Health Awards, and announces changes in the way the magazine cover research and the evidence base for practice.

The article focuses on the views of Doctor Max Henderson, senior lecturer at the Institute of Psychiatry at Kings College in London, England, on the use of traditional diagnoses in occupational health. Henderson questions the relevance of diagnoses to explain the symptoms that caused an employee's absence. He argues that traditional diagnoses is not significant to occupational health. He adds that traditional diagnoses fail to consider co-morbidity.

The article reports on the positive response to the consultation by the government of Great Britain about its plan to reform the Med3 sick note certification by creating a fit for some work option in the new certificate and cites the importance of guidance for general practitioners (GP) and occupational health (OH) practitioners if adopted. Emphasis is given on the significant of role of GPs in a national education program. Bill Gunnyeon of the Department for Work and Pensions, meanwhile, denies that the work of OH practitioners will be taken by GPs.

The article reports on the results and recommendations of the National Health Service (NHS) Health and Wellbeing Review in Great Britain released in 2009. The average rate of absences of NHS staff due to sickness was 10.7 days annually than the 9.7 days in the public sector. Royal Mail Group chief medical adviser Doctor Steven Boorman has led the survey of 11,000 staff. Another finding is the high levels of presenteeism or working despite the fact that staff were not fully fit.

The article looks at the career of the human resources (HR) director for the British company Tesco Stores, Therese Procter, and her commitment to the health and well-being of Tesco's employees. Topics include an overview of Procter's responsibilities at Tesco, what she considers to be her proudest achievement, and the key advisory role Tesco's occupational health (OH) team has in helping HR maintain well-being. An overview of what makes Tesco's HR staff successful is also discussed.

The article discusses the highlights of the Industrial Relations Services (IRS) Absence and Attendance conference in Great Britain in November 2008. The key theme of the conference focused on the importance of educating and training line managers in cutting absence rates and preventing unnecessary long-term sick leave. Another recommendation from the speakers was to maintain contact with an individual while they are on sick leave.

The article reports on the response of the government of Great Britain to professor Dame Carol Black's recommendations aimed at improving the health of working age people in the country. These recommendations include plans for an electronic fit note to replace the current sick note system and fit for work early intervention services. Fit for Work, which will be piloted from 2009 until 2011, will test different models for supporting early intervention and return to work for people on sick leave using multidisciplinary teams.

The article discusses various reports published within the issue, including one on Dame Carol Black's recommendations on work and health and another on the winners of the Occupational Health Awards 2008.

The article discusses the highlights of the annual scientific meeting of the Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM) held in London, England in July 2008. SOM president Gordon Parker urged occupational health (OH) doctors to lead the fit-for-work teams recommended by national director for health and work, Carol Black, in her review of the health of working-age people. He argued that general practitioners (GP) and hospital consultants with an interest in occupational medicine should look to the SOM for education and leadership.

An interview with Carol Black, Great Britain's national director for health and work, is presented. She comments on whether there is a need for huge numbers of doctors and nurses to enter the occupational health (OH) profession in the next few years. She explains how the fit-for-work service will work for small companies that do not have any OH service to refer to. She discusses the concerns of OH nurses who have advanced qualifications about tackling health promotion or wellbeing.