It is with great sadness that I have to report the death of Dr Mabel Alli. Mabel died in December 2010 from the complications of a long-term illness. Mabel was the Director of the North West London Haemoglobinopathy Network, which is based in the Department of Public Health at Brent Primary Care Trust, and an Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Primary Care & Public Health at Imperial College. Through her work with the Haemoglobinopathy Network, Mabel made an important contribution to improving the care of people with sickle cell disease and thalassaemia. In her most recent project, Mabel was working with the NW London CLAHRC programme to develop a training programme in sickle cell disease for general practitioners in Brent PCT.
The integration of Work Coaches (WCs) & Disability Employment Advisors (DEAs) into UK General Practice (GP) provides an innovative approach to bridging the gap between health & employment services. We now reflect on the findings of our recent study led by Shriti Patani, Lara Shemtob & Kabir Varghese in collaboration with colleagues from the Department of Primary Care and Public Health at Imperial College London. The study explored the benefits & challenges of integrating emplyment support services in primary care from the perspectives of GPs & work coaches. What’s the context? Employment is a critical social determinant of health, with unemployment linked to poorer physical & mental wellbeing & reduced quality of life. Traditionally, individuals seeking employment support access services through Jobcentres. However, barriers including stigma or lack of awareness - especially in people with disabilities or long-term health conditions -...
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