Media release from ACC

Injured people out of the workforce are more likely to have higher rates of depression and suicide, and will potentially live shorter lives.

These conclusions come from an emerging body of research on the relationship between work and health.

It shows that long term absence from the workforce can equal the damage caused by smoking ten packets of cigarettes a day, and be as dangerous to your health as working in high risk industries such as construction and oil drilling.

The research, and strategies for promoting and realising the health benefits of work, will be presented by Professor Sir Mansel Aylward, Director of the Centre for Psychosocial and Disability research, Cardiff University. He will launch the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (AFOEM)'s position paper, "Realising the Health Benefits of Work", tomorrow (25 May) in Auckland.

The position paper encourages a shift in thinking away from a 'sick leave' culture in which treatment providers focus on disability and routinely certify injured people as unfit to work. It argues we need to move to a 'fit to work culture' which focuses on identifying ways to keep injured workers safely engaged in the workplace.

The paper has a strong call to action. It urges unions, government, corporates, the health profession, the community and injured workers to work together on solutions that enable people to remain in the workforce and realise the health benefits of work.

"We are hoping that the position paper will be a tipping point in New Zealand, when the community starts to take on board the message that safely recovering at work delivers real heath benefits for injured people," says ACC Director of Clinical Services, Dr Kevin Morris.

"New Zealand must wake up to this message and embrace the health benefits of work. GPs need to review their approach to certifying patients to focus on how they can keep them engaged with work. Employers need to look at how they can help workers recover at work. And patients should understand that, in many cases, they would be better off remaining at work where possible."

Dr Morris said that ACC is developing a range of early intervention services designed to make workplace rehabilitation easier by developing and co-ordinating solutions for GPs, employers and patients which help people return to work.

He pointed to the success of ACC's Better@Work trial in which GPs working in selected PHOs refer patients who can recover in the workplace to Better@Work co-ordinators who bring the GPs, employer and injured worker together to make it happen quickly and effectively. The trial has reduced time off work and enabled injured workers to remain at work.

In Britain, the National Health Service has taken a similar approach to re-focusing GPs' approach to medical certificate, changing the 'sick note' to a 'fit note' to ensure patients' abilities are recognised, rather than their disabilities.

"The British approach aligns with ours. The sooner the community acknowledges the health benefits of remaining in the workplace, the sooner we will all benefit - in terms of improved personal health, reduced expenditure on health services, and better economic productivity.

The position paper, which was released in Sydney last week, can be found at:

http://www.racp.edu.au/index.cfm?objectid=D7FAA935-92EB-90E8-C6A7D8BE27A8D41F