An evaluation of occupational health services within the NHS in London

Ujah, Elizabeth U.; Bradshaw, Lisa; Fishwick, David; Curran, Andrew

doi:10.1093/occmed/kqh009

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…It was also evident that a significant proportion of workers had no access to an occupational health service, a problem previously described in both non-health care 13,14 and health care settings. 15 These workers presumably relied on primary care for such input, consulting health care workers with little or no knowledge of their workplace processes and potential inhaled exposures. This issue remains currently unresolved in the UK, although it is clear that whilst it is possible to configure such input in primary care, 16 lack of time during the consultation and lack of appropriate training may pose significant problems.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are we failing workers with symptoms suggestive of occupational asthma?

Fishwick

Bradshaw

Davies

et al. 2007

Primary Care Respiratory Journal

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Aims: To assess the route to secondary care for patients with possible occupational asthma, and to document the duration of workrelated symptoms and referral times.Methods: Consecutive patients with suspected occupational asthma were recruited to a case series from six secondary care clinics with an interest in occupational asthma. Semi-structured interviews were performed and hospital case notes were reviewed to summarise relevant investigations and diagnosis.Results: 97 patients were recruited, with a mean age of 44.2 years (range 24-64), 51 of whom (53%) had occupational asthma confirmed as a diagnosis. Most (96%) had consulted their general practitioner (GP) at least once with work-related respiratory symptoms, although these had been present for a mean of 44.6 months (range 0-320 months) on presentation to secondary care. Patients experienced a mean delay for assessment in secondary care of 4 years (range 1-27 years) following presentation in primary care.Conclusions: Significant diagnostic delay currently occurs for patients with occupational asthma in the UK.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are we failing workers with symptoms suggestive of occupational asthma?

Fishwick

Bradshaw

Davies

et al. 2007

Primary Care Respiratory Journal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are we failing workers with symptoms suggestive of occupational asthma?

2007

Primary Care Respiratory Journal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Aims: To assess the route to secondary care for patients with possible occupational asthma, and to document the duration of workrelated symptoms and referral times. Methods: Consecutive patients with suspected occupational asthma were recruited to a case series from six secondary care clinics with an interest in occupational asthma. Semi-structured interviews were performed and hospital case notes were reviewed to summarise relevant investigations and diagnosis. Results: 97 patients were recruited, with a mean age of 44.2 years (range 24-64), 51 of whom (53%) had occupational asthma confirmed as a diagnosis. Most (96%) had consulted their general practitioner (GP) at least once with work-related respiratory symptoms, although these had been present for a mean of 44.6 months (range 0-320 months) on presentation to secondary care. Patients experienced a mean delay for assessment in secondary care of 4 years (range 1-27 years) following presentation in primary care. Conclusions: Significant diagnostic delay currently occurs for patients with occupational asthma in the UK.

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“…One growth area for occupational health in the UK is NHSPlus, still in its infancy. Ujah et al [4] examined provision of occupational health services in London NHS Trusts and found not only a significant variation in both the nature and extent of the service provided, but also that 88% of trusts were providing services externally. Some argue that NHSPlus is the nationalized NHS occupational health service we never had in disguise.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%