Many members of Parliament (MPs) believe that employers should be encouraged to provide occupational health services for staff - according to a survey by Axa PPP Healthcare and business research agency BRPI.
The study showed that, of the 100 MPs who were asked for their views, 53% of Labour MPs and 64% of Conservatives stated that they tend to agree that employers should be encouraged to provide such services. A further 33% and 29% respectively strongly agreed with the action. Just 2% of Labour representatives strongly disagreed with it.
Many also believed that employers should be given incentives to provide occupational health services for their employees.
Just under half (49%) said they tended to agree this should be the case.
And employees would also stand to benefit. Some 42% of Labour respondents and 48% of Conservatives said they tended to agree that employees should not be taxed on the cost of healthcare perks as a benefit-in-kind.
However, 16% of the overall sample disagreed with this statement, with Labour respondents appearing to present a stronger opposition to the idea. Dudley Lusted, head of healthcare development at Axa PPP Healthcare, said: "This is a positive response from the government. There is a general realisation that the [National] Health Service is going to need some support beyond tax payers' money, and that employers and the government have a role to play."
For more information visit http://www.axappphealthcare.co.uk
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