A new Welsh Assembly Government website has been launched,
providing support for businesses, GPs and individuals. Healthy
Working Wales aims to promote healthy working practices, and offers
advice on managing and recovering at work if any health issues
arise.
The site will combine resources delivered in partnership with
the Health & Safety Executive and National Public Health
Service for Wales, and will bring together initiatives including
Workboost Wales, Welsh Backs and the Corporate Health
Standard.
GPs
Healthy Working Wales will also host a new pilot programme
providing GPs with access to online resources on health and work
issues.
The programme – which has benefited from £300,000 worth of Welsh
Assembly funding, will provide online support for GPs to
access occupational health advice for their patients.
According to the Health & Safety Executive, 30 million
working days are lost each year due to work related ill health and
latest estimates of the cost of sickness absence and associated
worklessness stand at £100 billion per year in the UK.
Dr Tony Jewell, the Chief Medical Officer for Wales said: "Ensuring
that we are able to lead healthy working lives is as much our
responsibility as our employers.
"Unfortunately, not all ill health can be prevented but we can
better support people to help them stay in work. The accessibility
and convenience of an information resource like Healthy Working
Wales is invaluable and will provide individuals, employers and
health professionals with access to advice that may help prevent
long term conditions from developing.
WEBSITE
For further information please visit the Healthy Working Wales
website at: www.healthyworkingwales.com