News

Public sector bodies are increasingly referring staff to nurses when they go off sick, rather than leaving matters to managers.

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH), which is responsible for council homes in Rochdale borough, has launched a scheme where, instead of calling their manager when staff are unwell, they call a specialist health advice service.

Staff can then speak to a nurse, who provides confidential health advice, and advises on medical treatment. If the employee is absent for some time, the nurse will remain in touch. The new service will be available to all 640 RBH staff.

"We have reduced the levels of absence, but there is still a need to improve," said managing director, Paul Neate. "When staff are off sick, it puts more pressure on their colleagues.

"We recognise that when staff are genuinely ill, they need support and good advice rather than further pressure."

When staff return from absence, they will still be interviewed by their line manager. Where they have to take several absences over a period of months, they will need to attend an interview with a personnel officer to find out whether the absence is work-related.

The news comes after York Council announced it was to extend the trial period for its sickness absence initiative where employees telephone medically qualified occupational health nurses when ill.

Despite a lack of support from trade unions, Ken Green, head of personnel, said scepticism surrounding the scheme would disappear over time. He cited a positive response from staff to a poll on the issue.