Health at Work

HC Deb 09 December 1997 vol 302 cc538-9W

33. Mr. Bill Michie

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what priorities for promoting health at work he intends to set NHS trusts. [18262]

Mr. Milburn

The Government attach very high priority to the occupational health and safety of National Health Service staff. Our priorities include stopping avoidable accidents, developing proper strategies for avoiding violence, and recognising the effect of occupational stress, addressing its causes and supporting staff accordingly. The Government have, through the Health at Work in the NHS project, piloted work on organisational stress, developed networks for the exchange of best practice and produced guidance on risk assessment, and sickness absence management, and are working with the Health and Safety Executive to produce guidance on avoiding violence to staff.