Overview | Evidence Gathering | Stakeholder events | Dr Steve Boorman | Governance
Overview
The independent NHS Health and Well-being Review was announced by Secretary of State Alan Johnson MP on 25 November 2008 as part of the Government’s response to Dame Carol Black’s report on the health of the UK’s working age population. In January 2009, Dr Steve Boorman agreed to lead the review. Dr Boorman is an expert on occupational health and currently Director of Corporate Responsibility and Chief Medical Adviser to the Royal Mail.
The NHS, as Europe’s largest employer, is committed to ensuring the best health and well-being for its entire staff. However, inconsistencies across the service mean there is a strong case for change and improvement across all parts of the NHS, to foster current successes and ultimately to support the Next Stage Review goal of providing high quality care for all.
The review recognises that in order to provide high quality care, the NHS needs healthy staff and high quality workplaces. It builds on the clear commitments in the NHS Constitution to the health and well-being of all NHS staff. The constitution contains a direct pledge to provide support and opportunities for staff to maintain their health, well-being and safety.
The review will take account of existing evidence and good practice on the health and well-being of working age people, including any evidence on the NHS workforce specifically. This will be supported by responses from both outside and within the NHS to the review’s Call for Evidence (April-May 2009), and with new research on staff perceptions of their current health and well-being support in the NHS.
The aims of the review are:
To gather evidence on the health of NHS staff, their health and well-being provision at work, and any barriers to effective human resource and management practices and occupational health service provision;
To build a comprehensive evidence base of possible measures to improve health and well-being; and
To make practical recommendations which will allow effective improvements across the NHS.
Endorsement for the review
“I am pleased to announce that Dr Boorman will be leading the review of the health and well-being of the NHS workforce. Healthcare workers have a vital role in supporting the overall health of the people in England and we need to make sure that they are equipped with the tools, training and support they need to deliver high quality care. Dr Boorman is a well respected figure in field of occupational health and broader health and well-being. I am delighted that he will be heading up this review.”
Ann Keen, Minister for Health Services
“I warmly welcome both the review of the health and well-being of the NHS workforce and today's announcement that Dr Boorman of Royal Mail Group has agreed to lead this review. My recent report 'Working for a healthier tomorrow' showed that there are clear bottom-line benefits to business from investing in health and well-being programmes, and this is equally true for public sector organisations who need to demonstrate value for money for the tax payer.”
Dame Carol Black
“I am honoured to be asked to lead the review of health and well-being within the NHS and this is a great opportunity to build on the good work already done and to help it maintain and improve the health of its diverse workforce. My experience in Royal Mail Group has helped me to understand how vital it is to care for the health and well-being of people to help them to achieve the high expectations of the public service they provide.”
Dr Steve Boorman
