Royal College of Physicians: Oscar winners live longer!

Thursday, 4 December 2008 12:00 AM

Self-esteem and recognition from our peers are important key factors in improving our health and living longer, according to the Head of the National Heart and Lung Institute, Professor Sir Anthony Newman Taylor.

In his speech to the Faculty of Occupational Medicine Winter Conference this week, he will draw on a study which shows that when an actor wins an Oscar, his or her life expectancy increases by some three years compared to other actors in the same film or other nominees. He will argue that how valued people feel in their jobs is comparable to income and social participation in determining how rewarding a role is, and that this has a significant impact on an individual's health.

Ahead of the conference Professor Newman Taylor said: "While there is good evidence that being out of work lowers one's health and life chances, new evidence is coming to light which suggests that the opposite is also true and rewarding work does benefit health. New studies, including one of civil servants, show a correlation between lower levels of heart disease and psychological well-being. It is clear that while income is linked to an individual's life expectancy, we are becoming increasingly aware of the value of control over our work, support in our jobs, and a sense of achievement for good health outcomes."

Occupational health services are not accessed by those who need them most

Only a minority of the UK workforce is covered by occupational health services and those most in need are being overlooked, the Faculty of Occupational Medicine's Winter Conference will hear this Thursday. Despite good provision of OH services in larger organisations and corporations, individuals working for small and medium enterprises (SME) or who are self-employed are at risk, especially in the agriculture and construction sectors.

Professor David Coggon, President of the FOM, will call for occupational health services for all, with an emphasis on improving provision in hazardous industries to minimize work-related diseases and accidents at work.

Commenting, Professor Coggon said: "When it comes to occupational health, an inverse care principle applies - those who most need services are the least likely to access them. It is worrying that people working in hazardous professions such as agriculture or construction do not have the support they need to prevent injuries that keep them off work. With the credit crunch taking its toll on businesses, it is crucial that employers do not see occupational health services as an area to cut back on, and instead invest in the health of their staff, which will be more beneficial in the long run."

Calls for voluntary standards for occupational health services

A voluntary accreditation system is needed to ensure occupational health clinicians and health and safety professionals can be the drivers of improved services. A leading expert in the field of occupational medicine will this week call for approved standards of training and qualifications, that all employers can recognise when commissioning occupational health service contracts.

Professor Sayeed Khan, Chief Medicial Advisor at EEF - the manufacturers' organisation, will look at a new way to provide services for workplace health, with physicians leading services. He believes they have the leadership skills, decision-making skills and status to oversee multidisciplinary teams in a multi-customer environment.

Professor Khan said: "We need voluntary standards and accreditation of OH services to guarantee the competence of the people driving change in the provision of occupational care. In practice, these voluntary standards will become mandatory in time, because all the experts in the field be recommending them. Employers will have a choice between choosing an accredited, cost-effective service or risking the health of their workers with an unapproved provider."

Joined-up delivery essential for providing occupational services

Coordinated efforts between Local Authorities, the NHS, the Department for Work and Pensions and occupational health providers are crucial to ensure that everyone can access OH services.

Dr Ewan Macdonald, Head of the Healthy Working Lives Research Group, will present evidence to the Faculty of Occupational Medicine Winter Conference on Thursday, looking at the benefits of joined-up delivery of services in reaching people who are self employed, work in the voluntary sector, are full or part time carers or are involved with community activities who often are overlooked by OH services.

Commenting, Dr Macdonald said: "Occupational health is at the heart of improving public health of all working age people, not only those employed by large corporations. Good, properly functioning services should provide protection from injuries and disease and promoting healthy living, which will lead to an overall improvement in the quality of our working lives."

END

Notes to Editors

1. The Faculty of Medicine's Winter Conference 'How should occupational health be delivered nationally in the 21st century?' will be held on Thursday, 4 December 2008 at the Royal College of Physicians, London.

2. The Faculty of Occupational Medicine promotes health in the workplace and develops and maintains high standards of training, competence and professional integrity in occupational medicine. It works with the government and other bodies on policy development and practice improvement in occupational medicine and health. For further information visit the Faculty's website: www.facoccmed.ac.uk

3. For more information, please contact Zoe Horwich, Communications Officer, Royal College of Physicians on 020 7935 1174 ext. 354 or email zoe.horwich@rcplondon.ac.uk.

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