This page gives you an overview of the Occupational Health and Wellbeing services available to NHS professionals and businesses.
Back pain in the workplace
Back pain in work can be complex and sometimes some little changes make a big difference. Have a look at things you can do to help yourself.
Manual Handling
Staff who are regular display screen equipment users may be entitled to an eye care vouchers through Specsavers.
This entitles you to a free eye test and a contribution towards glasses if you require them for a PC screen.
Your manager should complete the online form, which will be sent into Occupational Health and Wellbeing. An eye care voucher will be emailed to you within five working days.
The use of computers and other Display Screen Equipment (DSE) in the workplace is now commonplace throughout the Health Service. These arrangements are controlled by The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 (revised 2000).
Effective use of the DSE Policy will ensure that there are no risks presented through the use of DSE. Incorrect use of DSE which can lead to upper limb pain and discomfort, more noticeable eye and eyesight effects, fatigue, stress and exacerbation of skin conditions can be avoided by suitable and sufficient risk assessment and workplace design and practice. “Problems can be avoided by good workplace design so that you can work comfortably, and by good working practices. Prevention is easiest if action is taken early before the problem has become serious”.
Occupational Health and Wellbeing can offer a wide range of health advice and support to staff on musculoskeletal issues and other DSE health-related matters.
What do I need to do?
- Employees must initially complete a self-assessment. The assessment focuses on the working environment and individual needs.
- If you have completed the self-assessment, please discuss this with your manager, your manager should work with you to support any changes required.
- If you have pre-existing, or new health complaints, or are under Occupational Health, please call 0151 529 3803. Referrals can also be made using the cohort system on your desktop.
Physiotherapy
Our Musculoskeletal (MSK) Physiotherapy team will assess and treat a wide range of injuries, disorders and diseases that affect joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons. Sports injuries, joint pain, complex pain conditions such as arthritis and problems after some surgical procedures are examples of issues that MSK physiotherapy can help treat.
Whether your injury, aches and pains are new or longstanding our physiotherapists are specially trained to deliver the very best treatment approaches to help you get better including:
Exercise therapy
Physiotherapists use exercise to help patients improve movement, flexibility and strength to reduce pain in both the short and long term. LUHFT physiotherapists are trained to ensure that everyone they see receive the right exercise program and they will provide support to assist you to learn and carry out the program to make sure you get the most from your treatment.
Joint mobilisation and soft tissue techniques
Hands-on treatment to joints and muscles can help reduce pain and allow the body to start to move more freely. Physiotherapists may use these techniques on patients alongside other treatment approaches such as exercise therapy to help patients get better quicker.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture refers to the insertion of sterile, single-use needles into specific points of the body to help relieve pain and symptoms. All LUHFT physiotherapists delivering acupuncture have undertaken specialist training in this area.
Occupational Therapy
Our Occupational Therapists will consider the impact of your work role and the environment in relation to your functional ability.
We have a wide range of skills within the team to be able to assist you to remain in work or return to work. We will work with you to establish the impact your current illness/ injury or disability has on your ability to perform your job role or the impact your work has on your condition.
We have specialists skills in neurology, rheumatology, upper limb disorders, splinting, ergonomics and long COVID.
Treatment may include:
- Equipment recommendations: home and work
- Postural advice
- Ergonomic advice
- Health Promotion
- Condition management
- Splinting
- Cognitive assessments and therapy
- Functional capability and work rehabilitation.
We will work with you and your manager and assist with reasonable adjustments and provide advice, treatment or onward referral.
Your assessment will take place in either the clinic or your work environment and home visits can be arranged if required. Most assessments are face to face but telephone consultations can be completed when appropriate.
As a SEQOHS accredited Occupational Health provider, we provide services to medical, dental and ophthalmic practitioners wishing to comply with the NHS Performers List
Please download, complete and send the workplace health assessment form with all evidence of vaccinations to occupational.
The form and vaccination evidence will be assessed by a nurse. You will be advised by email of the costs involved dependent on the documentary evidence of vaccinations you are able to provide:
- Paper assessment - £30.00
- Paper assessment and appointment - £45.00
- Blood tests and vaccinations as required.
Once payment is received one of the following will occur:
- Clearance note will be sent to the address you provided to us
- A letter will be sent to you advising of the appointment date and time.
This is a service for staff who are seeking psychological support for issues related to their work. Support is available by telephone or video call and is available Monday to Friday, 9am–4pm. Please note that the service cannot offer crisis support.
If you require support outside of these times, you can contact one of the following options:
- For Liverpool and Sefton 0800 145 6570
- For Halton, Knowsley, St Helens and Warrington 0800 051 1508
- If you feel you need urgent help or are at risk call 999 for emergency services of the Samaritans on 116 123.
Please take a few moment to fill in this short form. You will be contacted as soon as possible to confirm the next steps.
How Occupational Health can help your business
By investing in your staff you can:
- Retain and avoid recruitment and training costs
- Contribute to reducing sick pay and associated costs
- Support colleagues if they are worried about how their health is going affect their ability to do their job
- Ensure all adequate precautions are taken to protect your employees from risks of the job and/ or equipment they use
- Help meet legal requirements and avoid discriminating against disabled workers.
By choosing an NHS Occupational Health Service you can have the confidence of good quality, professional standards and regulations. We have the wider NHS community to support our service and you can be assured of the best quality care.
We are accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and work within the SEQOHS framework.
Cost will depend on what you want from the service. And we can work with you to find a package that suits your needs and is cost-effective for your requirements.
As we are part of the NHS, we have strong networks within the UK and benefit from the wide clinical experience.
If you are interested in finding our more about how we could help your organisation, please email Business Manager, Diane Lee.