What is Occupational Health?

Occupational Health (OH) is a confidential medical service that provides expert advice and guidance about health issues and their impact upon work. OH advice can be provided to employees and employers to help improve wellbeing in the workplace. It can be used for both physical and mental health.

Occupational Health can offer advice and support to people who are:

• off work due to ill health
• returning to work following sickness absence
• managing long term medical conditions at work
• vulnerable or shielding because of COVID-19

Occupational Health assessments are conducted by a doctor or a nurse who has undertaken advanced training in work and health. Doctors are members of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine.

The Occupational Health physician or nurse will carry out an assessment of the employee and report back to your employer. This can help your employer understand what types of support you need to:

• feel better
• return to work
• do your job
• address any problems that could cause further health or absence issues

Yes. Usually your GP will assess your fitness for work and give you advice. In cases where your employer disagrees with your GP’s advice they can ask the Occupational Health physician or nurse to give an opinion about your fitness to work including advice job.

We promise to use your information fairly and legally, and in line with local and national policies. You have a right to understand how your information is used and you can request a copy of the information we hold about you at any time.

NHS North Cumbria Talking Therapies Practitioners and North Cumbria Talking Therapies Employment Advisors work alongside each other to provide integrated employment support and will have shared access to your information.

Please speak to your North Cumbria Talking Therapies Practitioner if you have any questions about your information and your clinical record.

If you want to make a comment, suggestion, compliment or complaint you can:

• talk to the people directly involved in your care
• ask a member of staff for a feedback form, or complete a form on the Trust website www.cntw.nhs.uk/contact/complaints/
• telephone the Complaints Department Tel: 0191 245 6672
• email [email protected]

We are always looking at ways to improve services. Your feedback allows us to monitor the quality of our services and act upon issues that you bring to our attention.

You can provide feedback in the following ways:

• the quickest way for you to do this is to complete our short online survey at
  www.cntw.nhs.uk/yourvoice
• complete a Your Voice survey, available on wards, reception areas or from staff
• other options for sharing your feedback and experience www.cntw.nhs.uk/yourfeedback

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
PALS provide confidential advice and support, helping you to sort out any concerns that you may have about any aspect of your or your loved ones care.

We act independently when handling patient and family concerns, liaising with staff, managers and, where appropriate, relevant organisations, to negotiate prompt solutions. If necessary, we can also refer patients and families to specific local or national-based support agencies.

PALS North of Tyne
Telephone: 0800 032 0202
Email: [email protected]
Post: FREEPOST PALS

PALS South of Tyne
Telephone: 0800 328 4397
Text: 07825 061 035
Email: [email protected]
Post: Patient Advice and Liaison Service
Garden Lodge
Hopewood Park
Ryhope
Sunderland
SR2 0NB

9.00 am – 4.30 pm, Monday to Friday
An answerphone is available at all times for you to leave a message. A member of the PALS team will aim to return your call as soon as possible.

NHS North Cumbria Talking Therapies Employment Advisor Telephone: 0300 123 9122

NHS North Cumbria Talking Therapies
Elmwood
Tynefield Drive
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 8JA

Further information about the content, reference sources or production of this leaflet can be obtained from the Patient Information Centre. If you would like to tell us what you think about this leaflet please get in touch.

This information can be made available in a range of formats on request (eg Braille, audio, larger print, easy read, BSL or other languages). Please contact the Patient Information Centre Telephone 0191 246 7288.

Published by the Patient Information Centre
2024 Copyright, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

Ref, PIC/861/0924 September 2024 V3

www.cntw.nhs.uk

Telephone: 0191 246 7288

Review date 2027