With an estimated £1.2 million lost every year in the North east through sickness absence, investing in employees’ health needs to take a much higher priority on the business agenda.

That was the message from James Miller, managing director of Aberdeen based Abermed, at the launch of the company’s new headquarters in the city’s Foresterhill Health & Research complex last night (Wednesday May 17).

At a business-orientated opening ceremony conducted by Commonwealth Games gold medal winners David Carry and Gregor Tait, Mr Miller highlighted that the business environment in the 21st century is fast paced and dynamic, but requires focus on health and well-being as much as people management.

David Carry (second from right) has his lung capacity tested by Occupational Health nurse adviser Craig Anderson, watched by Abermed Managing Director James Miller (left) and fellow swimmer Gregor Tait (right)

“In David and Gregor we have two examples of how supreme health and fitness can create so many positive results,” stated James Miller as he welcomed guests to the new 7000sq ft custom designed premises. “On a lesser scale, the workplace is no different, with clear evidence that healthy people make for a healthier workplace, not just in medical terms but also with regard to positive attitude, motivation and happiness.

“Companies are now well attuned to the concept of Investors in People for staff development. What we now need is a similar level of commitment to the health aspects.”

Abermed, provider of occupational health services, has seven centres - in Aberdeen, Inverness, Glasgow, Teesside and Norwich – an annual turnover of £8 million and employs over 100 staff.

The company undertakes approximately 100 medical examinations per day from its new premises, as well as providing the full range of occupational medicine services including provision of offshore medics, sickness absence management, health promotion, health surveillance, establishment of remote location medical centres and travel health services.

“We continue to develop business throughout the UK and overseas, and have already substantially increased the capacity in Aberdeen as a result of these larger, tailor made and fully-equipped premises,” continued James Miller.

Health and Safety Executive research shows that in 2005, £12 billion was lost nationally through sickness absence, and 1 in 5 workers reported feeling stressed, equating to a total of 5 million people in the UK. The average cost of sickness absence is calculated to be £601 per employee per year.

Abermed’s new centre is at Forest Grove, close to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.