Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what additional steps she is taking to ensure that occupational health schemes are involved in delivering public health strategies in localities.
The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities Regional Teams work with local authorities in encouraging employers to access quality, cost effective occupational health help services. Integrated Care Partnerships and Health and Wellbeing Boards play an important role in joining up planning and provision of services, both within the NHS and with local authorities, including engaging the full range of partners in an area.
We are taking forward a number of policy proposals, including testing a financial incentive for Small-Medium Enterprises and self-employed, to increase access to occupational health services, whilst ensuring the market has the capacity to provide these services by supporting development of a sustainable workforce and stimulating innovation in the market.