Evaluation of an occupational health service for general practitioners and their staff in a primary care trust

Abstract

Background: An occupational health service was set up in 2002 for general practitioners (GPs) and their staff in a London primary care trust (PCT). The service was based on a needs assessment undertaken in the locality in 1998.

Aims: To evaluate awareness, usage and perceived helpfulness of the service amongst GPs and practice managers, and to ascertain current perceived priorities for what to include in the service.

Methods: Questionnaire survey sent postally and electronically to 199 named GPs and 69 practice managers in 78 practices in the PCT.

Results: Overall 119/268 (44%) responses were received from 54/78 practices (69%). Awareness of the existence of the service was high (76%), and although uptake had been poor, this was not related to a perception that the service was unlikely to be helpful. Almost all those who had used the service had found it helpful. Nineteen (16%) respondents asked for more information about the service. Advice on health and safety law and fitness for work assessments were the highest priorities and hepatitis B immunization lowest, as in the 1998 needs assessment. However, a discrepancy between GPs and practice managers with regard to the perceived relative importance of pre-employment health screening and counselling/stress management emerged.

Conclusions: The service is valued by users but could be developed by exploring new ways to disseminate information about the service and deliver it.