The Chartered Society for Worker Health Protection was responding to the joint statement by the SOM, the Faculty of Occupational Medicine (FOM) and the NHS Health at Work Network as it welcomed the publication of the NHS Long Term Plan earlier this year. 

The NHS Long Term Plan is published every 10 years and sets out the Health Service’s priorities for its health care over the next 10 years, in particular with regard to how funding will be used. 

The NHS Health at Work Network is the network of occupational health teams dedicated to ensuring that the NHS has a healthy, motivated workforce that is able to provide the best possible patient care.  

The SOM is the organisation for all healthcare professionals working in occupational health and the FOM is the professional and educational body for occupational medicine in the UK.  

In its position statement, the SOM, FOM and NHS Health at Work Network said, “The NHS Long Term Plan recognizes the important role that all employers have in supporting staff to stay healthy and in work. We welcome the commitment to increase access to OH across all sectors. However, we note that the proposals do depend upon employers’ willingness to fund these services.” 

Endorsing the statement, BOHS’ President John Dobbie added, “As occupational hygienists, we understand the value of investment by employers in ensuring staff stay healthy and in work. For example, research has indicated that the return on investment in an effective occupational hygiene team can be as much as £70 for every £1 spent.  We therefore support NHS efforts to ensure a healthy working environment for all their staff and encourage that funding is made available to support increased access to OH services.”