Occupational Health - Faq

OH  ensures individuals are healthy and happy within the workplace. It is a form of preventative medicine to identify conditions that could be caused or aggravated through the workplace.

The aim of OH is to manage any risks in the workplace that are likely to give rise to ill health.

OH Services can help improve productivity, save money and keep sickness absence records low. 

A dedicated OH Service gives staff and managers rapid access to professional advice which will help protect, support and maintain staff with health issues within the workplace.

Contact us to discuss your OH needs. 

We can arrange a one off appointment or act as your dedicated occupational health provider. 

We have a flexible approach and can tailor around your organisation. 

We aim to complete the OH Report within one working day. 

We will then release it to either the employee or employer depending on consent preferences. 

A referral to OH can help in many ways

Firstly we can liaise with the GP and ascertain further information with regards to the employees health and well being. Secondly we can facilitate a return back to work and advise against the sick note if we feel it is in the best interest to do so. In March 2013 the Government issued guidance indicating that employers can give precedence to an OH report as opposed to a GP sick note. Thirdly we can incorporate measures to help ease the employee back into the workplace, measures such as phased return, advising on disciplinary matters and addressing perceived work place measures are some adjustments to assist with sickness absence.

The cost for an OH assessment and report by a Specialist OH Physician is £295. The fee is the same whether it is telephone, Video assessment or face to face. 

Click here for our prices.

You can pick and choose what needs addressing at an occupational health assessment, you can also ask up to three additional questions with our referral form:

Common questions include 

• Cause of sickness absence ?
• Anticipated length of sickness absence ?
• Adjustments to help facilitate a return back to work ?
• Is the condition covered under the Equality Act ? 
• Is the sickness absence related to work ? 
• Barriers in returning back to work ?
• Is the individual fit to attend a disciplinary hearing or meeting ?
• How are they coping with their functional day to day activities ?
• Is the employee capable of providing regular and effective service ? 
• Is the pattern of sickness absence likely to continue ? 

A GP sicknote (MED 3) is an advisory note indicating the length of sickness absence. 

A referral to occupational health can help in several ways. 

Firstly we can liaise with the GP and ascertain further information with regards to the employees health and well being. 

Secondly we can facilitate a return back to work and in essence advise against the sick note if we feel it is in the best interest to do so. In March 2013 the Government issued guidance indicating that employers can give precedence to an occupational health report as opposed to a GP sick note. 

Thirdly we can incorporate measures to help ease the employee back into the workplace, measures such as phased return, advising on disciplinary matters and addressing perceived work place measures are some adjustments to assist with sickness absence. 

Occupational Health Physicians have a better understanding of the workplace and work related health conditions therefore we are able to offer tailored and structured advice to help a return back to work. We are able to spend 30-45 minutes which each individual which a GP is unable to do in most circumstances due to time constraints and limited resources. We are able to identify and explore work related circumstances and formulate strategies in returning back to work.  

A GP will always (and rightly so) act as an advocate for their patient. Occupational Health Physician act as independent  intermediaries providing impartial reports facilitating a return back to work. 

After agreeing on an occupational health assessment we will arrange on a suitable date and time and arrange whether the assessment will be face to face, telephone or through virtual assessment ( Google Meet/Zoom).

A referral form will be issued whereby standard questions and additional questions posed by the employer will be issued. 

Once this has been returned back we will perform the occupational health assessment with the employee.