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Alan Johnson calls for new focus on work-health balance

A new support service for NHS doctors and dentists is to be piloted in London.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson today called for all employers to do more to promote the health and well-being of their staff.

Speaking at the British Heart Foundation's Well at Work Conference in London, the Health Secretary set out some key steps that employers and government must take:

• First, employers must take steps to promote health and well-being in the workplace
• Secondly, government must work with employers to improve how we identify potential health risks, in particular around stress and mental health, and address these risks
• And thirdly, government must do more to help those able to work, but have been prevented from doing so by health reasons, get back into the workplace

The Government also today launched Professor Louis Appleby's report 'Mental Health and Ill Health in Doctors', containing recommendations on how the NHS can support doctors to look after their own mental health.

• Read full news release for further information (opens new window)
• Mental health and ill health in doctors report