Referral to Occupational Health

If you are a manager wishing to refer an employee to the Occupational Health department:

Step 1 – Ensure you have log in details for OPAS G2 system. If you do not have a username please contact the Occupational Health Department.

Step 2 – Log in to OPAS via the following link: G2 - Occupational Health and Safety Software (opasg2.com)

Step 3 - Create a management referral. See the attached guide for help 

C7469_STSFT_Management_Referral_-_Manager_Only_Information.pdf

What happens next?

1. When the referral has been received in the Occupational Health department it will be triaged by a Senior Nurse.
2. Once triaged, the clerical team will contact the employee and offer an appointment. The progress of the referral can seen by logging into OPAS.
3. Following the consultation, you will receive a notification informing you a report is available on OPAS to view.

Why am I being referred? What will happen?

Employers refer individuals to occupational health for many reasons. This can be a worry for employees, but in the majority of cases the referral is for the benefit of the employee. We can help to make sure you are not harmed by your work, and we can advise on suitable rehabilitation programmes or adjustments to work to help you get back to work if you have been ill or you have a disability.

You may be referred for an assessment before you start work (pre-employment health assessment). This ensures that you are fit for the job and will not be harmed by the job. It is also an opportunity to identify medical problems or disabilities that might affect your fitness for work so we can advise the employer how to adjust the work to ensure you can still do the job. This helps employers meet their legal obligations.

If you have been off sick, your employer might want to know when you can return to work, and if any temporary or permanent changes need to be made. For example we may advise that you should start back on reduced hours while you recover, or that you should avoid certain tasks while you regain fitness. This will help ensure that you feel confident to start work, and that you only do work you are physically and mentally capable of doing while you settle back in. We may also advise that you need to transfer or redeploy to a different role if you are no longer able to do your former job.

How quickly you return to work following surgery depends on a number of things:

• How you heal 
• How you respond to surgery 
• The type of job you do 

It is your decision when you want to go back, and you do not need your GP’s permission to return. There is also no insurance risk to your employer if you choose to do so.

Work can be part of your recovery

Everyone needs time off to recover after an operation, but too much of it can stand in the way of you getting back to normal. 

People whose work involves a lot of heavy lifting, standing up or walking for long periods of time will not be able to return to work as quickly as those who have jobs which are less demanding physically. 

Things that will help you to recover more quickly:

• Eat healthily
• Stop smoking
• Keep in touch with family and friends 
• Keep a routine
• Build up activities gradually
• Don’t sleep in

How can I be referred?

Your manager will refer you to the Occupational Health and Wellbeing Department. In some circumstances it may be possible to self-refer, although where possible we encourage staff to liaise and engage with their managers to ensure transparency.

What can I expect on my first visit?

On your first visit you will have an appointment with a nurse or a doctor for a routine Occupational Health assessment. This involves going through some questions to get a full history of your health which will allow us to focus on the main issues that are affecting your health and work. The consultation will take approximately 45 minutes to complete. You will be advised when the appointment is booked whether this will be a telephone or face to face appointment.

If you require a face to face appointment please bring any medical reports about your condition, details of your medication, and any glasses if you wear them. It is important that you arrive on time so that we do not have to cut your visit short or cause delays for other appointments. If you are going to be late, let us know. We may have to ask you to visit at another time. We will let your Manager and HR representative know about any missed or postponed appointments.

What if I need help relating to a disability or language difficulty during my visit?

If you need assistance during your visit to the Occupational Health and Wellbeing Department, please let us know beforehand. 

What happens if you need more medical information from me?

We may need more information about your health from your GP or a specialist. We can only ask for this with your consent. If this is necessary, the process will be explained to you. Any medical reports from your GP or a specialist will be sent directly to the Occupational Health and Wellbeing Department and not your Manager or HR representative.

Can I see my health records?

You can access any of your records held by the Occupational Health and Wellbeing Department in accordance with the Data Protection Act. 

Is my visit to the Occupational Health and Wellbeing Department confidential?

Our staff will not disclose any personal information or information about your health to anyone else without your consent, including your Manager and HR representative.

We can only inform your employer about a medical condition with your consent. If we feel that your employer should know any medical details we will explain this to you and give you the opportunity to refuse to allow this information to be passed on if you wish.

There are some conditions where we must give some information to your manager so they can make any necessary adjustments on safety grounds. 

What will the Occupational Health and Wellbeing Department tell my manager?

After your visit, we will prepare a response to the manager who made your referral and to your HR representative. It is our job to assess your health and advise you and your employer on how this affects your work. We will advise whether or not you are fit to carry out your normal work duties and whether your work needs modifying. We also try, wherever we can, to give some indication of the timescale for your recovery. If you have a long-term disability, including a disability that is not always present but occurs in spells, we will advise on adjustments to be considered by your employer. Occasionally we have to consider if redeployment or retirement is appropriate. We also advise on some health and safety issues.

Does my employer need to know what is wrong with my health?

If you have already told your employer what is wrong with you, then some information about how this affects your work can be a bit more explicit, but generally the employer does not need to know the specific nature of any condition in order to manage your work situation safely.

Can I see the response to my employer?

We will explain to you the advice we will be giving to your employer during your visit. We will also send you a copy of the response at the same time that we send this to your manager and/or human resources representative. If you would like to see the response before it is sent, you can request this on the consent form that will completed at the end of your consultation. We will show you or send you a copy of the response as soon as possible. If you have any concerns about the response, please let us know as soon as possible in writing; preferably within five working days. We will consider your concerns and correct any factual or spelling errors.

What if I do not agree to the release of the response to my employer?

If you do not agree to the release of the response to your employer, we will inform your Manager and HR that the assessment has been completed and that we do not have your consent to release the report at this stage. If you agree to this at a later stage, we will be happy to release the report at this time. If you do not agree to the release of the response, your Manager and HR representative will need to follow their procedures without Occupational Health advice in relation to your work.

What happens if I have referred myself to the Occupational Health and Wellbeing Department?

If you have referred yourself to the Occupational Health service we will talk to you about whether it is appropriate to contact your manager and HR representative and we will talk to you about any advice that we will be giving. Your health must be our priority and we do not want to do anything that will impact negatively on your health. At the same time, we do not encourage employees to stay off work any longer than is necessary. There may be times when we need to advise staff to return to work with some temporary restrictions/ adjustments to safeguard their health and support their recovery.

I am going to my GP, why do I need to have an Occupational Health consultation?

Occupational Health Practitioners have a more detailed understanding of your workplace and the health issues that might arise there. They also understand employment law and health and safety law. They are therefore in a better position to advise your employer.
They may need further information from your GP or specialist to help them provide appropriate advice to your employer.

Are Occupational Health biased to my employer? 

Occupational Health Practitioners have to follow ethical guidelines set by their professional organisations including the Faculty of Occupational Medicine, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and the General Medical Council.

We have to be impartial and fair in our reports. However, we do have a responsibility to your employer, in particular for health and safety. If we find that you are medically unsafe to undertake specific work we have to inform your employer.

Occupational Health will provide impartial advice. There may be times where we need to ask for supporting information for your GP. However our advice will be baised on our clinical knowledge around your specific job role.  

• Royal College of Surgeons (England) 
• Patient information leaflets from the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.