Healthcare funding to help small firms

07/09/2007

Small and medium-sized businesses are set to benefit from £10m government funding to improve occupational healthcare services.

According to the government, the vast majority of small firms do not access occupational health support, and both businesses and employees could benefit from more focus in this area.

The funding, announced by health minister Ivan Lewis, will be put towards demonstration sites to drive improvement in the way occupational health services are delivered in the small business sector.

The aim for the sites is to pioneer good practice in occupational healthcare, and stems from an NHS Plus goal to tackle work-related health problems and to get employees back to work.

The health minister welcomed the funding, saying: “This £10m to support new pilot sites will reap huge rewards for employees, the NHS and society in general by having a healthier and more productive workforce. We want people to be healthy at work and for businesses to flourish.”

According to the Department of Health, the scheme makes ‘excellent business sense for employers of all sizes as it brings real and immediate benefits to both the business and its workers - including the NHS’.

Dr Kit Harling, director of NHS Plus, said that ‘we must not forget that the needs of small and medium-sized businesses are key priority in this work’.

“This fund offers a further opportunity to develop high quality and innovative occupational healthcare services for these businesses. We need to instil real changes in their occupational health practices and this new funding has the power to do this."