Health news from Brum

I'm at the Health and Wellbeing at Work conference and exhibition in Birmingham.

Yesterday I learned:

• The government's planned new electronic fitnote to replace the MED3 sicknote isn't likely to make its debut until next year. They've got the note pretty well finalised (it's been trialled in various forms for three years) but need to sort out the systems to make it available to GPs on screen - the NHS doesn't have the easiest relationship with IT historically. DWP's chief medical adviser Bill Gunnyeon says it will be heralded by a lot of publicity to let employers know how to interpret the advice it will carry on what sick employees can do at work.


• Sitting bolt upright in your chair with your chest thrust out (like a parade fround sergeant major) is almost as bad for you as slumping forward. This sort of "thoracic upright sitting" - more common among women than men apparently - puts strain on deep muscles that are only meant for load bearing.


• The vitamin Thiamine has been identified as a trigger of occupational asthma, when applied to breakfast cereals (literally applied, they spray it onto cereals to put back in a little of the nutritional value that is stripped out from the grain in the manufacturing process.

Louis