Research in occupational health. The UK National Health Service

The creation of over fifty consultant posts in occupational medicine in the National Health Service in the last few years has paved the way for the development of occupational health research in the health services in the United Kingdom. General research topics that await further study include: health inequalities amongst health care workers, the Sick Doctor and Sick Nurse; job stress, back problems, pregnancy, and infection risks from blood. Topical specific hazards include glutaraldehyde, cytotoxic drugs, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, and implications of new technology in surgery. The coordination of databases across different district health authorities would create large populations for epidemiological research, such as the surveillance of sentinel diseases, the delivery of occupational health services and vaccination strategies. Occupational health should be seen as an integral part of delivering health care and adequate funding for occupational health research should be made available.