In May 2008 NHS Lanarkshire (NHSL) implemented a unique sickness absence
management service called ‘Early Access to Support to You’ (EASY) service. The EASY
service supplements existing absence policies and enables communication between the
absentee and their line manager from Day 1 of absence and referral to occupational health
at day 10. We analysed three sources of data and showed that the EASY service was
effective in reducing sickness absence and NHSL moved from the worst performing
Scottish mainland Health Board to the best in terms of sickness absence management.
The service was also cost effective; the value of the hours saved comfortably exceeded
the cost of the intervention
