NHS Plus ‘Health for Work’ Adviceline launched in Liverpool

Small businesses in Merseyside can now benefit from a free NHS Plus ‘Health for Work’ Adviceline, which has been launched by Lord McKenzie of Luton, Lords Parliamentary Under Secretary for Work and Pensions.

Small business employers can now directly access advice from occupational health professionals on 0800 0 77 88 44 about any workplace health problem.

Metro Physical, the leading physiotherapy clinic for the North-West, was one local businesses which attended the Liverpool launch at Aintree Racecourse last week.

Sales and Marketing Director Stephen Davidson said: “Musculoskeletal issues are particularly problematic and have a massive impact on small businesses. I will definitely put the adviceline into use if needed and will be recommending it to others.”

The effect that absenteeism and ill health has on the profitability of small businesses is often overlooked due to the daily demands of managing growth and improvement. But the cost of unexpected absences among employees should not be underestimated.

Currently, working-age ill health and sickness absence costs the UK economy more than £100 billion each year with the worst performing businesses losing an average of 12 days per annum for every employee.

The most common recorded causes of absence are physical problems such as back pain, and mental health issues such as stress and depression, which are estimated to cost the equivalent of £1,035 per year for every employee in the UK work force.

DWP Minister Bill McKenzie said, “For the vast majority of us, being in work is good for our physical and mental wellbeing. But occasionally people do get sick and it’s important that their workplace is able to provide the right support to help them return to work.

“This adviceline will enable smaller businesses in Merseyside that may not have the resources of a larger company to access resources and to support their staff to return to work quickly.

“By helping smaller businesses retain staff without a period of absence or help them assist an employee back into work, the adviceline should also bring financial savings to businesses.”

Employers can call the adviceline on 0800 0 77 88 44 for help with individual employee health issues or find out more at www.health4work.nhs.uk.

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