Carol M. Black

Professor Dame Carol Black DBE, MD, FRCP, MACP, FMedSci, is the UK National Director for Health and Work, Chairman of the Nuffield Trust, Chairman of the Governance Board of the new Centre for Workforce Intelligence, President of the British Lung Foundation, and Pro-Chancellor of the University of Bristol. She is currently co-chairing an independent review of sickness absence on behalf of the government.

She is a past-President of the Royal College of Physicians, and has recently stepped down as Chairman of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges. The Centre she established at the Royal Free Hospital, London is internationally renowned in the field of connective tissue diseases. Since the early-1990s, she has worked at board level in a number of organisations, including the Royal Free Hospital Hampstead NHS Trust, the Health Foundation, the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement, and the Imperial College Healthcare Charity, and recently chaired the U.K. Health Honours Committee.

She is a trustee of the National Portrait Gallery, a member of the Committee for the Queen’s Awards for Voluntary Service, and is on several national committees aiming to improve healthcare. She is a foreign affiliate of the U.S. Institute of Medicine and has been awarded many honorary degrees and fellowships.

Affiliations

• Council of the Academy of Medical Sciences
• Member, Post Graduate Medical Education & Training Board
• Vice Chairman of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
• Governor of the Health Foundation and the Picker Institute
• Chair of the Nuffield Trust
• Non-Executive Director of the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement
• Chair of the Health Sub-committee of the Honours Board.
• President of the Keele University MBA (Health Executive) Alumni Association
• A member of the Scleroderma Foundation National Medical Advisory Board

Dr. Black earned four degrees from the University of Bristol,^[1] and in June 2007 she received an honorary degree of Doctor of Science from the University of Glasgow. In 2010 she was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the Royal College of Nursing.^[2]

Influence and Atos Origin

Dame Carol Black has called for a new approach to work-related health services, after her review 'Working for a Healthier Tomorrow' found that ill health was costing the country £100bn annually.

Dame Carol Black was commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to advise on how to improve the health of those in work and reduce the number claiming sickness benefits.

Dame Carol Black questioned the current sick note system, which she said concentrated on what people cannot do instead of what they can. She recommended that doctors' written sick notes should be replaced with an electronic "fit note", explaining what people were able to do even if they were ill.

The Secretary of State for Health does not give a breakdown of the medical conditions of those denied allowances. The Secretary of State for Health seems to agree with the notion that a "few simple physical tests" are sufficient to deny allowances. Atos Origin has confirmed in writing to the Health and Safety Executive that their medical assessment comprises only a "few simple physical tests".

"Scot Junior" controversy

Junior NHS Doctors were upset when Dame Carol Black was re-elected Chairperson of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges ^[3](unopposed) in 2008. One junior surgeon (referred to as "Scot Junior") allegedly launched an immoderate language "scatological" attack on Dame Carol Black at the Doctor's Discussion Forum (www.doctors.net.uk) ^[4] which resulted in Dean Elisabeth Paice, complaining to "Scot Junior"'s dean at Highland (Prof. Gillian Needham). The junior doctor ("Scot Junior") was suspended.^[5] The GMC announced that it would conduct a full investigation into the matter.^[6]

References

1. ^ University of Bristol Alumni
2. ^ Rolls of Honour, Royal College of Nursing, 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
3. ^ http://www.aomrc.org.uk/ Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
4. ^ http://www.Doctors.net.uk/ Doctors Discussion Forum
5. ^ "Dr Rant" site
6. ^ "Doctors' authorities probe suspension of mucky-mouthed medic", The Register

External links

• Royal College of Physicians 2009 Press Releases
• NHS Institute
• Fit for Work, Europe site

Academic offices
Preceded by Sir Kurt George Alberti	President of the Royal College of Physicians 2002–2005	Succeeded by Ian Gilmore

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Name	Black, Carol M.
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