Making a referral / self referral
Making a Referral
In order to refer an employee to the Occupational Health Service (OHS) a line manager or administrator should be familiar with document OHS M4/01 'Management Referrals' to the Occupational Physician and must ensure that the employee in question is willing to attend the referral and understands the reasons for it. The manager must use the Management Referral Form which can be posted to the OHS at 10, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PD or emailed as an attachment to physician@uohs.ox.ac.uk.
Self-referral
Self-referral to the Occupational Health Service (OHS) may be useful for discussing concerns about the impact of a health problem on one’s capacity to work or the effect of the workplace on one’s health. Such confidential appointments may help you to understand the options available and arrive at a decision on what to do when uncertain.
However, most referrals to Occupational Health come through a senior manager such as the Departmental Administrator, a member of Personnel staff or line managers. This is the best route for accessing support for the majority of occupational health work-related issues because it involves the appropriate people within the University to deal with them. Self-referral to the Occupational Health Service has limitations on how much assistance can be given for workplace matters, because management are not involved. Following management referrals, the Occupational Health Physician or Nurse Advisor writes a report to the referrer with the individual’s consent. Copies of reports are sent to individuals. Medical confidentiality is observed, as required by professional codes of conduct and outlined in our OHS statement of confidentiality. With a self-referral, reports are usually not written and therefore the manager cannot be expected to have knowledge of a problem and cannot give appropriate support.
Self-referrals are not helpful if action by your manager or the University is expected. In order for them to know about health matters and work, the management referral process to OHS should be used and you can discuss this with your Administrator or other senior manager responsible for personnel support. If it is a safety concern with health implications, you can also approach the Area or Departmental Safety Officer.
The Occupational Health Service does not diagnose or treat non-occupational conditions which should be referred to your General Practitioner.
Any self-referral to the OHS will be assessed initially by an Occupational Health Adviser and confidential advice given. If the Occupational Health Advisor thinks it would be helpful, referral on to the Occupational Physician can occur. Follow up Occupational Physician appointments are discretionary and not generally offered for self-referral cases.