Harrow Council is set to investigate a significant portion of its occupational health appointment data that falls under the 'others' category. The issue was raised during a recent Employees' Consultative Forum meeting, where concerns were voiced about the high percentage of appointments not classified under specific directorates. The high percentage of 'others' may indicate a lack of clarity in the data, making it difficult to allocate resources effectively or identify specific health trends within different departments.
Davis Searles, a representative at the forum, highlighted that 50% of the Medigold data, which equates to 136 appointments, is currently categorised as 'others'. Medigold Health is a provider of occupational health services. The data is categorized by directorates, and the 'others' category may be due to mismatches in directorate information, or because people presenting at occupational health haven't declared their directorate.
During the meeting, an officer suggested the 'others' category might stem from inconsistencies in directorate information. The officer offered to investigate the matter further to determine the exact cause of the mismatch. The aim is to provide a more accurate breakdown of appointment data in future reports.
Searles also questioned whether the 'others' category comprised a few individuals from numerous departments or if it was due to a systemic recording issue. He emphasised the need for clarity, stating that a 50% figure in the 'others' category is probably not a particularly useful figure to have.
Searles also raised concerns about the low number of face-to-face appointments for musculoskeletal and mental health issues, questioning how these conditions are being assessed without in-person evaluations. This suggests a concern about the quality of assessment for these specific health issues.
The council's action aims to improve the accuracy and usefulness of its health data, ensuring that resources are appropriately allocated and that employee health needs are effectively addressed. The investigation will focus on identifying the root causes of the data discrepancies and implementing measures to prevent similar issues in the future.
The Medigold data was part of the annual health and safety report for 2024-2025, which was presented at the Employees' Consultative Forum.
The full annual health and safety report for 2024-2025 is available on the council's website, and the minutes of the Employees' Consultative Forum meeting can be found here.