The trial of a new occupational health advice line for employers is launched today in seven pilot areas in England, and in the whole of Wales and Scotland. The service (called Health for Work in England, Healthy Working Lives in Scotland and Healthy Working Wales in Wales) is part of the Government's plan to reform support services for people with mental health conditions, aimed at helping people remain in work, or get back into work if they are unemployed.
The Department of Health says that the new advice lines will give small businesses direct access to occupational health professionals, and will signpost to advice and services, including on how to support employees with mental health conditions.
The pilot areas in England, where the service is being trialled from today, are East Anglia; Merseyside; North East; North and West Yorkshire; Portsmouth, South Hampshire, East Sussex and Isle of Wight; South Buckinghamshire, South Oxfordshire, West Berkshire; and West London.
The advice line numbers (live from today) are:
- England (pilot areas only) - 0800 0 77 88 44
- Scotland - 0800 019 2211
- Wales - 0800 107 0900
The Health4Work website providing guidance for employers in England will be live from Wednesday 9 December 2009 at www.health4work.nhs.uk.
Employers in Scotland can already access the Healthy Working Lives website, and employers in Wales can go to the Healthy Working Wales site.
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