The Occupational Health report

A good quality referral is essential to enable the Occupational Health Nurse Adviser to carry out an effective Occupational Health appointment and produce a quality occupational health report.

This report will aim to:

• provide you with necessary occupational health advice and guidance
• contain suggested options and recommendations
• respond to all the questions asked in the referral
• not simply repeat what has been put forward in the referral

The report aims to enable you to:

• make informed decisions
• take action
• achieve an appropriate outcome

If the individual does not wish to see the report first, the Occupational Health Clinician will produce an OH report which will be sent to you within 5 business days of the appointment.

If the individual does wish to see the report first, then Occupational Health will give them 10 additional business days to view the report and consent to its release. If there has been no contact from the individual within the 10 additional business days.

The report will clearly indicate the next steps from an Occupational Health perspective.  These may be one of the following:

• OH review appointment with the OH Nurse or OH Physician
• Further medical information requested from a GP/specialist
• Case closed

If further Occupational Health advice is required relating to a return to work within 6 weeks of closing the case, you can request a further Occupational Health appointment by contacting the author of the report.

If the individual does not agree with the contents of the report

The individual can request that factual information in the report is corrected.

The Occupational Health Clinician is not obliged to change their opinion at the request of the individual, EPS or the referring manager.

If the individual provides further information or statements of opinion the Occupational Health clinician may choose to update their report as appropriate. However, they are not obliged to do so as the report provides their clinical recommendations.

The individual may also share further information or statements of opinion directly with their line manager. The manager may consider these and take them into account, but will make decisions and take action based on the clinical recommendations contained within the OH report.

The individual can withdraw their consent to attend the Occupational Health appointment or release the Occupational Health report at any point in the process. The individual is provided with clear guidance regarding the possible consequences of withdrawal of consent. It states that if consent is withdrawn the organisation will continue to manage the capability and attendance issue/s but without the benefit of Occupational Health advice.

A withdrawal of consent must not be allowed to stop or pause the management of attendance or capability issues.

If consent is withdrawn or withheld, you should immediately seek the advice of EPS. The team will be able to support you with further advice on how to progress with the management of the attendance or capability issue.

If you would like to discuss the content of the report

If you wish to discuss the Occupational Health report, you should contact the author of the report in the first instance by emailing the clinician on the email address provided in the report.

Due to the OH clinician being in clinic, there may be a delay in responding to you. However, you will receive a reply within 5 working days of submitting your email.

You can also contact the OH advice line for generic advice if required.

Complaint Process

If you have a complaint about any aspect of the service, submit your complaint in writing by:

Email: [email protected]
Post: Addressed to Complaints, Occupational Health, The Annexe, Steele Close, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO53 3AA

Accessing the Occupational Health Management Report on cohort

If you require any clarification, please contact the clinician who wrote the report by email or phone.

It is your responsibility to discuss the report with the individual as soon as possible. You must then make prompt management decisions and take appropriate actions, seeking HR advice where appropriate.

For guidance on how to access the report, please refer to the Cohort guidance.

If the manager does not understand or agree with the contents of the report

If you do not understand or agree with any elements of the Occupational Health report, you should contact the author of the report by email or phone. They will discuss your questions and concerns with you.

The Occupational Health clinician will try and answer your questions, consider any points you may wish to raise with them, but they are not obliged to change their opinion at the request of the individual, EPS or the referring manager.