Newcastle Occupational Health Service - Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

We deliver occupational health, physiotherapy, counselling and educational intervention services to the NHS and other partners.

Our services

The service is made up of an extensive multi-disciplinary team of professionals.

The services we provide include:

On commencement screening and fitness for work assessments.
Support for attendance management.
Physiotherapy.
Counselling.
Vaccinations including BCG.

Seasonal flu and COVID vaccinations

Newcastle OHS can also provide services to small and medium sized companies in a flexible and professional manner.

Referrals

For information about referring to our service, please visit the service page.

Guide to referral

Self referral

Staff may contact Occupational Health Service (OHS) in confidence. The support we can offer may be advice and guidance and we would encourage you to discuss the issue of concern with your line manager who may then make an in-service management referral.

Management referral

Health problems may affect work. If a manager has any concerns about the effects of work on an employee’s health, or the effects of health on an employee’s work referral to NewcastleOHS should be considered.

NewcastleOHS can provide advice to managers and assist staff with their health problems.

Early referral is recommended for any staff member who has:

A musculo-skeletal injury.
Mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.
Work related accident.
An infectious / communicable disease.
Prior history of long term absence.

Evidence supports early intervention and managers may make a referral at any time – but preferable within 4 weeks of absence.

Management referral process

It is essential that both staff and NewcastleOHS know the reason for the referral. It is important that the occupational health professional is made aware of all relevant facts about a case to ensure that objective advice is given based on a full understanding of the issues of concern to the referring manager. Preferably referral will be sent from an NHS net account.

Other information

We also run some clinic sessions at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, New Victoria Wing, main outpatients – clinic G.

If you are offered an appointment at the RVI clinic you need to take a seat in the area adjacent to clinic reception and the occupational health practitioner will collect you from there.

Please note that the reception desk at outpatients do not hold lists for these clinics so you are not required to check in for these appointments .

If you have any queries regarding these appointment please contact us on 0191 282 1188.

If you need alternative formats please contact us by telephone 0191 282 1188

Referral process

On receipt of the form the referral will be triaged by the clinical team and an appropriate assessment arranged. This may include an initial telephone assessment with nurse or doctor or physiotherapist

Recommendations and advice may include:

Opinion on fitness for work.
Confirmation of an underlying medical condition.
Suggestions in relation to both temporary and permanent adjustments to the work place such as:
- Workplace adjustments in relation to tasks, time and workplace.
- Consideration of physical aids and assessments through Access to Work.
- Support to individuals though coaching, mentorship and specific training.
- Arrangements for onward specialised assessments with physiotherapy, counselling.
Opinion on likely impact of health problem on current and future performance or attendance.
Opinion on the likely decision of the employment tribunal on the implications of the Disability Provisions of Equality Act 2010.
Confirmation on the requirement for further investigation or medical reports from treating specialists.
Advice on fitness for suitable redeployment opinions.
Advice on suitability for mutual termination on grounds of health.

Sharps/needlestick injuries and body fluid exposures

Sharps / needlestick injuries

It is important that you act immediately if you or a colleague has sustained a sharps / needlestick injury.

Staff MUST report the injury / contamination to the nurse in charge of the clinical area or their supervisor / manager.

During normal working hours report the incident without delay to OHS by phone 0191 282 1188
or email newcastle.ohs@nhs.net putting URGENT ADVICE REQUIRED NEEDLESTICK INJURY with your contact details in the header.

Advice and support will be provided and you will be asked to come to the department to help deal with the incident. Outside normal working hours contact:

Emergency department – Royal Victoria Infirmary
Emergency admissions unit – Freeman Hospital

The on-call registrar for infectious diseases can be contacted for advice on risk assessment, counselling and need for post exposure prophylaxis and must be contacted if the risk is high or involves a known positive patient on:

Wash off splashes on skin with soap and running water, but without scrubbing.
Gently encourage bleeding if the skin has been broken, but without sucking the wound.
Contaminated mucous membranes, including the conjunctivae, should be irrigated copiously with water.
Record the source of the exposure (patient’s name, unit number etc), type of body fluid and type of injury on the risk assessment form
The incident must be reported on DATIX as soon as possible.
Consent for bloods needs to be taken for the following: HIV , Hepatitis B antibodies & Hepatitis C antibodies

Please note that we will notify risk management if you are unable to provide a DATIX report number.