Preventing ill health

This section is devoted to the tools and methodologies available to prevent ill health within your organisation.

I think it is fair to say that this is probably the most contentious and difficult to assess part of any health and wellbeing strategy for the following reasons:

The sheer volume of initiatives, products and services that claim to improve productivity or reduce costs
The lack of empirical evidence to support such claims
No real benchmarking of what works and why- having to rely on providers marketing and snippets of information published in a wide range of media
Very few live case studies to help employers make informed decisions
Making decisions based on value judgements only
The needs of employers vary greatly depending on their industry sector and culture
Difficulty in understanding where to strike the balance between employer and employee responsibility for health and wellbeing
The longer lead times needed before results become clear

I could go on but I think I have made my point.

Managing ill health is much more straightforward, but where does the bigger prize really lie?

Update on HealthScreen UK

May 19, 2011

Since my last post, I’ve been meeting with a wide range of employers, benefits consultants and insurers to discuss the cancer specific screening proposition of HealthScreen UK (HSUK).

There has been massive interest about how HSUK services can reduce the emotional and financial costs of the most common cancers. The early detection of cancer and educating people how to be the first line of defence against rising incidence has so many positive benefits:

For the individual, knowing your cancer risk and how best to manage it dramatically improves prognosis.
For the families of individuals affected, the emotional strain is lessened.
For employers, the costs of private medical and other health related insurances are significantly reduced as are the absence costs associated with cancer only diagnosed in the later stages.
For insurers, early detection reduces their cancer claims liability.
For the NHS, the costs of treating cancer diagnosed earlier reduces financial pressure on cancer budgets.
For the government, it supports their cancer strategy, Improving Outcomes.

We all seem to spend so much time discussing the increasing costs of treating cancer whereas we should be promoting every way possible to ensure early detection and self awareness.

But it’s more than just about the financial benefits. Cancer screening saves lives.

My New Role at HealthScreen UK

Mar 20, 2011

Last week I was appointed MD of HealthScreen UK, the exciting new venture to help employers and their employees in the early detection and prevention of cancer.

It’s a great business to be involved with, supporting as it does the National Strategy on Cancer, Improving Outcomes

For details please visit www.healthscreenuk.com/news – more from me as it happens.

www.healthatwork2011.co.uk

Mar 03, 2011

Are you going to www.healthatwork2011.co.uk at the NEC 8/9 March?

I’ll be there both days, spending much of my time with the team from www.breasthealthuk.com who have just launched a new early detection service for skin cancer.

Their new website www.healthscreenuk.com goes live 22nd March.

Might see you next week.

Breast Cancer now affects 1 in 8 Women

Feb 04, 2011

The most common cancer for women makes most of the headlines today following updated figures released by Cancer Research UK (CRUK). In earlier posts, I’ve told you that I am doing some work with www.breasthealthuk.com because I truly believe we can do a great deal more to reduce the enormous financial and emotional costs of this disease. (more…)

Swine Flu

Jan 07, 2011

Back in September I suggested that providing employees with a flu vaccination seemed a sound investment ahead of the winter months. Like many health related commercial considerations, the costs of prevention (about £7 a shot) were significantly less than the costs of illness related absence and cure. I wonder how many employers factored flu vaccinations into their health and wellbeing strategy.

As is usual at this time of year, you can’t turn a page or click on a website without being bombarded with swine flu and absence related stories. One of the current headlines is that there is a shortage of the most up to date flu vaccine. With most professional commentators saying that we are coming to the peak of the flu outbreak, isn’t it a bit late to discover this? The whole point of vaccination programmes is to carry them out well in advance of a potential virus outbreak.

Were you ahead of the game? What are your flu related absence costs going to be come March? Has it made you consider a different approach come next autumn?

British Heart Foundation Update

Jan 05, 2011

The team at BHF have been in touch again recently to let me know that over 800 organisations have signed up to their Health at Work Programme . They are making a big push for it in January to help employees get healthy in the New Year following the festivities.

Have a look at their website to see what they are up to and what use you can make of the free resources on offer. Here’s the press release in full:

Kick the January blues and get healthy at work in 2011

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is urging workers everywhere to kick the January blues and get healthy at work in the New Year by joining the BHF’s Health at Work programme.

A recent survey revealed that 30 per cent of workers admit to eating more unhealthy snacks and treats during the working day and over a third (34%) say they tend to be less active at work than at home. The BHF Health at Work programme helps organisations everywhere, large and small, to set up their own health club at work, from arranging regular lunchtime walks to organising a company football team.

Lisa Purcell, Project Manager for the BHF’s Health at Work Programme said:

“It can be difficult to find the motivation to get fit and healthy during January when we are faced with cold weather and dark nights. Our survey revealed UK workers tend to exercise less or eat more unhealthily during the working day. This doesn’t have to be the case. Just going for a walk on your lunch break or clubbing together for a regular fruit bowl can make a real difference to your wellbeing. “

The programme, sponsored by Legal & General, has already signed up more than 800 organisations. Employees from bin men to bank tellers are joining the scheme and getting fit together. Lisa adds:

“For employers, the rewards are clear. Encouraging workers to eat healthy and exercise during the working day can improve productivity, reduce staff turnover, and result in fewer sick days. Why not challenge your employees to become a fitter, healthier workforce in 2011?”

Sign up for free and get all the advice and resources you need to start your own health club at work at bhf.org.uk/healthatwork.

ENDS

Latest from Health Work and Wellbeing

Dec 14, 2010

Since the general election, the Health Work and Wellbeing (HWWB) team have been pretty quiet about their future plans and objectives. Remember it is made up of representation from DWP, DoH, HSE, Scottish Government and The Welsh Assembly. They have recently published a report outlining baseline indicators on health and wellbeing reflected in surveys of both employees and employers. I don’t know who they surveyed, but some of the responses indicate that their messages are not hitting home. (more…)

Breast Screening Saves Lives

Dec 02, 2010

Further to my post that I am going to be doing some work with BreastHealth UK, only yesterday, the media ran a story quoting cancer specialists from The London Breast Institute. Their research has shown that 1,000 lives would be saved if women were offered annual mammograms from the age of 40 rather than 50 which is the current entry age for the NHS breast screening programme.

Only 2% of the 7,000 women in their 40s diagnosed with breast cancer every year were identified through screening. Of these 7,000, it is likely that 3,000 will die of the disease.

Dr Nick Perry, director of The London Breast Institute commented, ‘Regular screening is already proven to lower the chance of women dying from breast cancer. The results of our study support the importance of regular screening in the under-50 age group and confirm that annual mammography improves the chances of breast conservation should breast cancer develop.’

Click here for the full article.

Public Health White Paper

Dec 01, 2010

The Coalition’s White Paper ‘Healthy Lives, Healthy People’ was published yesterday. Whilst it makes reference to the role of employers and highlights their responsibility, there is nothing as yet that we haven’t heard before.

The government calls on employers to provide better training for managers, forge closer links with occupational health and, wait for it, set up mini competitions / challenges between staff in activities such as cycling. This is hardly the radical approach that they refer to in the beginning of the document.

I don’t know who they consulted with before publication, but I don’t think they realise the significant investment that many employers already make in the health of the working population, saving much of the public purse. What would really galvanise employers are tax/financial incentives that reward them for making further investment.

BreastHealth UK

Nov 29, 2010

I recently met with Troels Jordansen, the Danish MD of BreastHealth UK, and spent some time talking to him about their breastcheck and screening services which they have developed for the corporate market. Having learned how much more can be done to prevent or reduce the enormous financial and emotional costs of breast cancer, I now believe their services to be some of the most relevant and valuable health benefits available to employers and their employees. (more…)

Preventing ill health

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