Back in FIRE April (pg 16) you highlighted the uncommonly high, 43 per cent, of medical retirements in the Fire Service compared to other public services. You also touched on stress and how the Ben Fund currently fits into the health support of the Fire Service.

You highlighted that muscular-skeletal problems makes up the largest group, and there is also a large stress level often linked not to a single incident but to a cumulative number of such incidents. Some observers put stress as high as a quarter of cases of medical retirement and it is increasing, while more than 40 per cent of medical retirements appear to relate to muscular-skeletal problems.

There has been a pressure put on brigades to rehabilitate unwell firefighters and to put the stress on health and safety issues, in order to avoid work related injury--if medical retirement is not an option. Your article highlighted that industrial accidents are far more likely to be reported in the Fire Service than in industries with similar physical requirements. Finally, the summary was that most employers could do more in terms of rehabilitation and that dealing with stress is often a weak point!

It has long been recognised that the FSNBF is a considerable contributor to the wellbeing of firefighters and their dependants. The fund's vision is to develop its services for people of the fire community in order to help them enhance their quality of life. The FSNBF can identify the fire community needs and deliver services to meet those requirements.

It is from these ever-diversifying objectives that a concept has been borne to launch an obvious partnership based on the long traditions between the fund and the Fire Service. who better to help firefighters and their dependants than a charity that for 60 years has been developing an intimate relationship with the exact problems most commonly faced by the Fire Service?

Over the years the fund has been led by trustees in a direction that best supports the needs of the Fire Service and has a synergy with aims and goals regarding welfare of staff. Now a new direction could mean that the FSNBF could become a primary provider of rehabilitation and therapy for the Fire Service community.

WHY?

* The fund has a unique knowledge base in the type of injuries and ailments which are common throughout the Service;

* The fund has a specialist skill base that can address and support injuries, which the fire services and local authorities now recognise and are keen to pay for;

* The concept fits with current Government proposals on the full cost recovery of services through contracts and in partnerships;

* It fits within the White Paper proposals for partnerships within the Fire Service; and,

* There is a 60 year bond of trust between the Fire Service and the fund--the fund be longs to the Fire Service.

HOW?

Rehabilitation:

* For disabled/injured children of Fire Service staff;

* Additional locations, ie a second therapy centre in the south; and,

* Mobile units, the services may be site based of mobile but will be integrated into existing facilities.

Recuperation:

* Access to physiotherapy on site; and,

* Additional locations--a second recuperation centre in the north.

Prevention:

* The FSNBF will look at supporting individuals in their efforts to prevent muscular and skeletal injuries;

* It will look to provide locally based rehabilitation services for individuals who have sustained an injury or have an ongoing ailment; and,

* The fund will provide an aftercare service which supports longer-term recovery and reduced reccurrence.

For the FSNBF the additional income will release charitable funds to further develop charitable activities for dependants, children, retired and those active personnel who do not participate in such a scheme. At this stage the project is a concept and will require some planning to work it up into a pilot scheme, but if all goes according to plan then the trustees will decide in January 2004 whether the idea should be tested. Strathclyde Fire Brigade is earmarked as the pilot area with several other metropolitan and shire brigades also expressing a strong interest in the outcome of such a project.

If successful then the aim of the project is to prevent strains and injury with education and correct recovery periods to reduce reoccurrence. The project would be cost effective and assist the fund to access and provide services for the whole of the Fire Service.