St. Vincent’s University Hospital’s ‘Working Backs’ programme helps staff manage back pain and reduce absenteeism.

22nd November 2018

The Occupational Health Department and the Physiotherapy Department at St. Vincent’s University Hospital (SVUH) have won the ‘People’ category award for their Working Backs Programme, at a special awards ceremony in The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, No. 6 Kildare Street hosted by the National Treasury Management Agency / States Claims Agency.

The Working Backs Programme was one of over 100 projects entered for the Enterprise Risk Network Recognition Awards,  with 18 finalists selected across 6 categories. This award is hugely significant for the project team and for St. Vincent’s University Hospital.

The Working Backs Programme is a multidisciplinary initiative developed and managed by the Occupational Health Department and the Physiotherapy Department, for staff reporting back pain as a result of work or whose work performance is affected.

The aim of the programme is to provide a pathway for early intervention to help staff remain at work and thus reduce absenteeism. The comprehensive programme includes occupational health assessment, a designated physiotherapy and ergonomic staff referral service, education and a referral pathway for further investigations and specialist review.

Continuous audit of the Working Back’s Programme demonstrates the programme is working, absenteeism is reduced, people like it, and it brings significant personal and organisational benefits.

The annual Enterprise Risk Network Recognition Awards acknowledge the leaders in enterprise risk management in the State sector and commend the ongoing process of continuous improvement and progress in the management of risk in State bodies. These awards enable the enterprise risk professionals in Delegated State Authorities (DSAs) to showcase their work in this area and promote the positive outcomes that can be achieved by implementing risk management initiatives.