Press Releases

Fear of bird flu could be a reason why more healthcare workers than ever before took up the winter flu jabs offer at one hospital, a new report suggests.
 
According to a study carried out by Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital, the number of staff who had a flu jab at their hospital rose by 6.6 per cent in 2005, coinciding with the mass media interest.

And on July 2, the team behind the research will present their findings to more than 250 doctors at the prestigious Annual Scientific Meeting in York. It is believed the study could be representative of other hospitals in the UK.

Organised by the Society of Occupational Medicine, the Annual Scientific Meeting aims to stimulate interesting debate around the latest research into occupational health. Along with the Beaumont Hospital, representatives of Oxford University, the University of Aberdeen and the National Institute of Working Life in Sweden will be discussing the theory of occupational health as well as the practice.

Chief Executive of the Society of Occupational Medicine said, “The week-long event is significant in the calendar of any healthcare professional who has an interest in the health of workers.

“We’ve lined up a series of seminars and satellite meetings to ensure there’s something for everybody.”

Other topics highly relevant to the UK includes lessons learnt from 7/7 - a presentation by London Underground entitled “Occupational Health response at London Underground to the events of 7th July 2005”.  This presentation – to take place on Tuesday 3rd July 2007 – also encapsulates the Conference theme of “Theory into Practice”, since it will discuss what had been in the plans (“theory”) and what actually happened “(practice”).

The Annual Scientific Meeting takes place in York from July 2. For more information please log onto: www.som-asm.org.uk.