ABSTRACT
With government policy acknowledging the importance of the public health contribution of all nurses, midwives and health visitors, this chapter highlights the importance of occupational health (OH) nurses focusing on and adapting their working patterns to encompass the public health agenda. The chapter explores the key role that OH nurses play in the public health agenda. With the launch of the Public Health Responsibility Deal in England in March 2011, there was a key aim to reduce sickness absence. It is relevant to employers and employees in all sectors of the economy, and was designed to provide the relevant tools and structure to enable employers to look at and address the main public health issues facing their employees. There is strong evidence from the Boorman report to demonstrate that NHS organisations that show commitment to supporting the public health agenda and health and wellbeing programmes for employees reach a positive range of outcomes.
