§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what studies he is collating in conjunction with the Department of Health into(a) the incidence of 1116W low back pain among those of working age and (b) its implications for loss of working time and costs to the benefit system. [48823]
§ Mr. Nicholas Brown[holding answer 17 April 2002]: The Department has played an important role in raising awareness of back pain disability as an issue; in promoting best clinical practice to health professionals; in supporting the development of guidelines for managers and employees; and in devising more objective and rigorous assessment methods.
A Chief Medical Adviser bulletin has recently been issued to all General Practitioners which specifically mentions the management of low back pain and the need for doctors to follow the Royal College of General Practitioners management guidelines when treating this condition. The Department continues to work very closely with external experts in the field of back pain in developing policies, guidance and procedures.
An innovative approach to work preparation——the "From Back Pain to Work" project——has recently been piloted in at the main hospitals in Salford and Bristol. This involved Jobcentre staff working in partnership with medical practitioners to reintegrate people with back pain into employment. The project used a programme of psychological, physical and occupational elements to help people back into work.
Results from the initial trials have been encouraging and there are now plans for further expansion and evaluation of the pilots in additional locations starting in late summer 2002.