Occupational health can reduce sickness absence

Occupational physicians are best equipped to manage stress, an article in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) has claimed.

Researchers pointed to Dutch studies showing "how early psychological interventions for common mental disorders, delivered through the workplace, can enhance health and reduce absence".

But, they added, "The UK has very poor provision of occupational health (one specialist for every 43,000 workers) compared with the rest of Europe."

Max Henderson and others, Long term sickness absence, BMJ 2005; 330: 802-803 (9 April).