Occupational Health Advice in Specialty Training by Dr. Ian Aston

"Occupational Health provides impartial advice on the interaction of health and work, focusing on the implications for trainee workers. It offers guidance on managing ill health-related absences and facilitating the return to work process effectively. Referral to Occupational Health results in tailored advice and adjustments to support trainees in achieving normal performance. Managers are expected to act reasonably based on advice from occupational health experts."

• Health
• Work
• Training
• Return to Work
• Occupational Health

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1. Occupational Health Advice in Speciality Training Dr Ian Aston Occupational Physician ianaston@nhs.net

2. Occupational Health Occupational Health provides impartial advice on the interaction of health & work. The advice is in the interests of the health of the worker (trainee) The advice does not detail the health condition but the IMPLICATIONS of the condition. We also, importantly, give advice to managers on changes to work when work (including training) affects health.

3. Return to Work Trainees should be regarded as; future specialists as an asset to develop an expensive resource

4. Return to Work Ill health is a common reason for lengthy periods of absence from work. Organising the return to work programme in these situations is sometimes complex.

5. Return to Work In all situations of prolonged absence; Purpose of a Return to Work programme is to organise a route back to work achieving; Normal effective performance (in all aspects) As quickly as is reasonable

6. Return to Work After period of ill health The specific return to work programme is dependent upon; The Clinical Condition & the functional implications The Work undertaken There is no one size fits all programme.

7. Return to Work Referral to Occupational Health Will result in written advice on Fit , or Not Fit to return to work Adjustments to work to enable trainee to return to work in an effective fashion with clear goal of attaining normal performance as soon as possible.

8. Return to Work In all employment situations, managers are expected to act reasonably. Adjustments are advised by occupational health; Managers need to consider whether it is reasonable to implement them. If they are reasonable they should be actioned. If they are not reasonable, managers should record the reasons why they are not reasonable . Reasonableness is a manager s decision.

9. Return to Work Complexities for medical trainees Professionals involved in managing/advising/helping trainees Clinical supervisor (maybe short term) Trust Director of Training Educational Supervisor (longer term) Trust Junior Doctor Liaison Officer Training Programme Director Trust HR advisor College Tutor HEE HR advisor Postgraduate Dean / APGD HEE Professional Support Unit At times, GMC

10. Summary Occupational Health will give the best advice on health affecting work and work affecting health. This includes advice on return to work programmes for trainees. The advice will be specific for the individual trainee and his/her work & speciality. The advice may not be the easiest to implement or follow.