OREANDA-NEWS. Aviva has announced a three-year partnership with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) across their Fit for Work initiative, with a programme of activity and resources designed to improve the wellbeing of the UK workforce and to highlight the importance of physiotherapy in preventing and reducing work related ill-health and sickness absence.

The health insurer, which has placed rehabilitation and early intervention at the core of its corporate healthcare provision for a number of years, has seen significant success and improvement of clinical outcomes for employees with musculoskeletal disorders. Through its close work with physiotherapists and its award-winning Back-Up1 service, over 40,000 corporate customers have gained quick and easy access to a consultation and treatment for their condition, aiding a prompt recovery and return to work.

The launch of the partnership is marked by the publication of a refreshed ‘Fitness Profits’ document for employers, which provides advice for managers on how physiotherapy can help keep staff safe, healthy and productive at work.

Aviva and the CSP will join forces on a number of awareness campaigns, including the CSP’s UK-wide Workout at Work Day event in June. Now in its third year, the day sees physiotherapists across the UK encouraging people to get more physically active in the workplace, while providing their employers with an understanding of the business benefits of having an active and healthy workforce.

Mark Sharpe, rehabilitation clinical lead, Aviva, UK Health, says: “Aviva is delighted to join forces with the CSP to help employees become fitter and healthier through the Fit for Work campaign. At Aviva we have a clear focus to help customers get the right treatment at the right time through our clinical and rehabilitation expertise and we are a keen champion of early intervention.

“Musculoskeletal disorders continue to be a leading cause of employee absence and by working with the CSP, we hope to highlight to employers the real business benefits of having effective physiotherapy advice and treatment services in place for their staff.  In providing employees with prompt consultation and treatment for musculoskeletal disorders, our Back-Up and Back-Up Plus services aid a quick return to work and help large corporate clients manage the total cost of musculoskeletal claims on their private medical schemes.”

James Hale, Director of Marketing and Communications at the CSP says: “The CSP is delighted to be working in partnership with Aviva. We welcome their drive to improve the health of the workforce and their recognition that early intervention services, like physiotherapy, are key in reducing or even preventing the time people need to be absent from work.

“We are very much looking forward to working together on our shared goal of ensuring faster access to health advice and support for workers.”