Occupational Health Appointment:

booklover

Hello everyone

My friend has been off work for 10 weeks now with depression she is finally seeing a CPN and is on Ads too. I think she is starting to get a bit better but her doctor doesn't think she is quite ready to return to work yet.

Anyway, she has an appointment with the Occupational Health Nurse at her workplace this week, and is worried as to what this will involve. Will she be forced to back to work now and what will they ask her??

Does anyone have any ideas about this?

Many thanks in advance for your help. :A

booklover

dmg24

Don't worry, the nurse will just ask how she is, if anything at work was making her condition worse, what they can do to help her return etc. They may ask when she thinks she will be ready to come back, but she shouldn't be afraid to be honest with them about this x

PasturesNew

I type up letters/reports after these things and the OHs I type for offer extra help/support that the patients don't get from a GP.

A GP gives a patient 10 minutes of time, an OH gives about 45 minutes.

The letters/reports I type up "side" if that's the word with the patient. They are checking that they've had all the correct help/medication from Doctors. That something hasn't been missed. They make sure that the patient is phased back into work if appropriate, setting out when they should be reviewed again (in case the patient's gone back to work and has stayed quiet when they're not fixed/whatever).

OHs also suggest to employers, where appropriate, additional help they can give to the patient. They advise if the DDA applies.

A GP will sign "OK to go back to work". An OH might say "OK to come back to work because the Dr says so, but let's phase them back in over the next 4 weeks, make sure they don't carry heavy stuff, don't let them do X, Y, Z duties. Get their workstation assessed. Let them have time off for medical appointments booked for ... ... and ..."

So it's really making sure they get all the help they need.

In the case of depression, they tend to check if the patient has been offered any counselling or CBT. And if not, they might suggest that it would help a patient and advise where the employer can get that provided. They will point out that the prognosis for recovery with depression is good and that work is proven to be the best place for people with this medical condition.

Really, it's nothing to be scared of. OHs are lovely people.

When I started typing the reports I thought their job was to try to get rid of people; to prove they were inadequate. To date, I've not seen one like that ever.

They seem to be really lovely people, who are just making sure people are getting all the help and fixing they need - and then are not overwhelmed when they are required to return to work.

Sugar_Coated_Owl

My company referred me to an occupational health Doctor. Basically he accessed whether I was fit to work, if my condition would affect me doing my job and/or what the company could do to help me.

I would imagine that in your friends case she has been referred to OH to allow them to assess her and ascertain when she will be ready to return to work.

booklover

Thanks everyone for your responses. It was very nice of you to explain what is involved.

Pastures New I am especially greatful to you taking the time to explain things so clearly in your detailed post.This will hopefully reassure my friend.

I will try to come back and let u know how she got on..

Thanks again everyone You are wonderful
booklover