A retrospective study of return to work following surgery.

Background: Sickness absence following surgery accounts for significant periods of sickness absence from employment. The duration of absence following two surgical procedures: benign abdominal hysterectomy (BAH) and Birmingham hip resurfacing (BHR) was explored.

Aim: To identify what advice patients who had undergone BAH or BHR surgery were given regarding their likely sickness absence duration and to compare this with their reported absence duration.

Advice given to patients about return to work and driving following surgery.

Background: The post-operative advice given to patients by health care practitioners regarding return to work and return to driving may have an impact upon their absence duration. The only guidance that is readily available to assist health care practitioners give this advice is provided by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

Aims: To identify what advice local consultant surgeons, occupational physicians and general practitioners give to patients about return to work and driving, following benign abdominal hysterectomy (BAH) and Birmingham hip resurfacing (BHR).

What do consultant occupational physicians do in the National Health Service? An audit.

Aim: To assess the range of activities undertaken by National Health Service (NHS) consultant occupational physicians, and quantify the proportion of time spent on these so that appropriate guidance and a model job description may be developed by the Association of NHS Occupational Physicians (ANHOPS).

Methods: A questionnaire was developed and sent to all full time consultant occupational health physicians (as recorded on the ANHOPS database).

Results: Sixty-five questionnaires were sent out, of which 38 were returned (59%).

Healthy workplace indicators: costing reasons for sickness absence within the UK National Health Service.

Sandwell Healthcare NHS Trust has been developing a tool for monitoring the reasons and costs of long-term sick leave (> 7 days). The data obtained from this process has been used to modify the type of occupational health and safety services provided for the Trust. Adoption of more standardized tools of this nature throughout the National Health Service (NHS) would help trusts to compare, and where appropriate enhance, the services provided by occupational health.