The free Health for Work Adviceline is delivered by NHS Plus in England for employers of small and medium-sized businesses (up to 250 employees).
It was launched nationally by the Department for Work and Pensions on 1 April 2010, after being piloted in seven regions throughout England from December 6, 2009.
The adviceline provides NHS Plus occupational health specialists who can advise on individual employee occupational physical or mental health problems, occupational health monitoring, screening and surveillance, lifestyle and well-being issues, absence management and rehabilitation.
The telephone number is 0800 077 8844.
The introduction of the adviceline followed Dame Carol Black’s 2008 Review ‘Working for a Healthier Tomorrow’. This was the first ever review of its kind on the health of Britain’s working population and it identified a need to provide small firms with more support in dealing with the impact of employee sickness.
The Review also recognised that businesses with a healthy working culture are more able to maintain productivity, reduce absenteeism, aid staff retention, increase staff morale, and develop a healthier environment where illness is less likely to occur.
An occupational health advice line also operates in Scotland and Wales.