WHY HAVE YOU BEEN REFERRED TO OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH?
Your employer may reasonably require advice about the health of their staff in relation to their work in a variety of circumstances e.g.: Long term sickness absence; frequent short term absence where health may be affecting work performance or work capacity; where a work process may be affecting health; for advice about early retiral on health grounds; for information about general fitness for transfer to new duties or a new post; any combination of these factors.
WHO ARE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH?
Occupational Health Services employ doctors and nurses who are specialists in the field of fitness for work and the fitness of the work for the worker.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Before the referral appointment you should be informed of and understand the reason why you are being referred. You should have had the opportunity to discuss your referral with your manager before attending the Occupational Health Service before you are requested to sign a consent to be seen.
REFERRAL
A letter of referral will be sent by your employer to Occupational Health outlining the reasons for the referral and highlighting questions they wish to have answered.
The referral should also include a history of your sickness absence record while employed.
APPOINTMENTS
An appointment date and time will be sent to you. Every effort should be made to attend on the specified date and time. If you are unable to attend the appointment you must let your manager/Personnel Services know.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN AND HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?
An Occupational Health doctor will see staff who have been referred and your first appointment with the doctor could last up to half an hour. The doctor will take a medical and occupational history from you and on some occasions may require to carry out a limited examination. The doctor may require a report from your GP, or specialist and at all times the Occupational Health doctor will explain to you who they are communicating with and why. The Occupational Health doctor will ensure that before requesting a report, your consent is obtained according to the Access to Medical Reports Act 1988.
REPORT
A report from the Occupational Health doctor will be sent to your Service Manager/Personnel Services. The confidentiality of clinical details given to the doctor during your appointment is respected i.e. Personnel will not be told of any personal details concerning your medical history, domestic life, etc. The Occupational Health doctor will report on your ability to work and any safety implications of your ill health. The doctor will discuss and agree the report with you. You may ask to see a draft of the report before it is sent. If you wish to have a copy of the report, this can be arranged. Your employer will be informed that you have been provided with a copy where appropriate. Your rights under the Equality Act 2010 will be respected.
REVIEW APPOINTMENTS
Following your initial referral appointment, the Occupational Health doctor may wish to review your progress. The same procedure outlined above applies to all review appointments.
If you are unable to attend an appointment please contact your manager or HR Manager as soon as possible.
IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR WORRIES ABOUT YOUR REFERRAL, PLEASE CONTACT PERSONNEL SERVICES OR YOUR LINE MANAGER.
