§ Mr. BaldryTo ask the Minister for the Civil Service what is Civil Service policy on ensuring regular health checks of all Civil Service personnel.
§ Mr. LuceThe health of successful applicants to the Civil Service is assessed on entry and some undergo medical examination. Civil servants in certain jobs are routinely examined at regular intervals because of statutory requirements or the nature of their employment.
Increasingly Departments are actively promoting positive health in their staff by information and education. Many have arranged routine smear tests for cervical cancer. Fifteen Departments have so far signed up as supporters of the "Look After Your Heart" campaign being run by the Health Education Authority. One component of this campaign is individual fitness testing and blood pressure screening.
The Civil Service Occupational Health Service is expanding its facilities to meet increased departmental demand for routine health checks, and can offer a range of services from comprehensive executive-type medical examinations to simple screening tests performed by a trained nurse.
Civil servants are also permitted to have time off work to attend their family practitioners who are being encouraged to offer regular preventive health checks to patients.