Dr Sian Williams, Clinical Director of the Health and Work Development Unit (HWDU) at the Royal College of Physicians said:
We know that staff health influences patient outcomes. Staff are the main delivery vehicle for patient care and the biggest single cost to the NHS. To meet the increasing pressure on staff to provide high volume, high quality care it is vital that staff health, happiness and engagement are core priorities for all NHS organisations.
HWDU, a partnership between the Royal College of Physicians and the Faculty of Occupational Medicine, runs a programme of national clinical and organisational audits which measure implementation of evidence-based guidance aimed at improving staff health.
In 2010, 73% of acute and mental health NHS trusts in England participated in the audit of NICE public health guidance for the workplace. The audit measured how well trusts were addressing obesity, smoking, mental wellbeing, physical activity and sickness absence amongst staff. The audit also looked at board engagement and organisational strategies.
Results found that 44% of trusts had an over-arching strategy for staff health and wellbeing and an additional 47% of trusts had a strategy in development.
Since the audit the HWDU has worked with over 60 trusts across England to identify barriers and enablers to implementing workplace guidance, and to support progress. Follow-up phone calls, 3 and 6 months after action planning workshops with trusts, show that there has been a lot of activity during the past 6 months. During summer 2013 the national audit data collection will be repeated to measure progress.
For further information visit the HWDU pages, or contact Hannah Bristow, Clinical Standards communications officer, on +44 (0)20 3075 1447 / 07584 303 784 or email Hannah.Bristow@rcplondon.ac.uk