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New
Independent Occupational Health and Safety Service for GPs and
Practice Staff
I’d like to advise constituents of some good
news! The three PCTs in Bedfordshire are firming up the final
arrangements for an Occupational Health and Safety Service for all GPs
and Practice staff. In early September PCT representatives, Practice
Managers and the LMC met with Dovedale and Helix Health Management to
agree the service specification. The services these independent
organisations will provide are anticipated to be supportive and
facilitative.
It is proposed that Helix Health will provide each practice with a
template for the following areas, which could then be incorporated as
practice policy.
 | Health & Safety Policy |
| Risk Assessment |
| Health & Safety Induction for new staff |
| Infection control |
| Immunisation |
Practices will be able to take advantage of pre-employment
screening for all new staff as well as partners, if required. Helix
Health is to provide training in the management of sickness and
absence and arrange Occupational Health referrals. They will also
organise out of area referrals for GPs and staff for psychiatric
treatment, drug or alcohol problems.
PCTs are to invest in Practice Care, which will be available for
GPs, Practice staff and their immediate families. Practice Care,
provided by Dovedale offers:
| A 24 hour counselling helpline |
| An entitlement to see a counsellor for six to eight sessions in
any 12 month period. |
GPs and staff can self-refer or staff could be referred, if
appropriate, by the Practice Manager.
We understand that PCTs are signed up to resource this
comprehensive service and it is hoped that implementation will take
place in October/November. A number of launch events are to take place
in each PCT area. The LMC would urge Practice Managers and GPs to
attend to gain a greater understanding of what is involved.
The LMC, PCTs and Practices have worked extremely hard at agreeing
and arranging a local service. We think this has the potential to be
an excellent service, please use it!
Elizabeth Riches
September 2002
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