Annual health surveillance/screening supports the early and proactive identification of employees within our organisation in need of a more detailed health assessment. It is important for detecting ill-health effects at an early stage and to give advice with the aim of preventing any condition from worsening.
The health screening within our Trust targets area of need in relation to the following:
- Night work
- Skin conditions that can be occupationally induced
- Tuberculosis contact.
Health screening questionnaire are in place for each subject. Upon completion of the applicable health screening questionnaire, if you have responded with a ‘Yes’ to any of the questions listed, you should speak with your line manager who can complete a Occupational Health and Wellbeing referral for further advice and support. If you respond ‘No’ to all questions no further action is required.
The need to involve your line manager at this juncture ensures that any recommendations needed within the workplace such as change in work pattern, or procurement of a specialist barrier cream for example, can be formally requested and will ensure that such actions are not missed. Your line manager will submit a management referral to Occupational Health and the service will then arrange to discuss with you in confidence, what further actions may be needed to support you.
You can find each questionnaire below. Please contact the Occupational Health and Wellbeing Service if you require any support in completing the relevant questionnaire(s).
All night workers are to be offered an initial and an annual health assessment. A night worker is classified as an individual who regularly works for more than three hours during the period of 11pm to 6am.
Contact dermatitis is the most common form of work-related skin disease seen in healthcare professionals. Dermatitis is an inflammatory condition of the skin caused by contact with a substance which can result in irritation, redness, cracking and/or blistering of the skin. Frequent or prolonged contact with water (termed ‘wet working’) and other irritants, chemicals and substances for example, soaps and cleansers have the potential to cause work related dermatitis.
You can complete the skin questionnaire here.
Healthcare worker (HCW) who have either direct contact with Tuberculosis patients should complete annual screening
In addition, there are a number of occupational groups who are working with persons at higher risk of acquiring Tuberculosis. These include staff working with prisoners, homeless persons, persons with drug and alcohol misuse and those who work with refugees and asylum seekers. BCG vaccination may also be considered for these groups.
In the Trust setting this may include HCWs working in or who perform certain clinical activities:
- Respiratory Teams
- Bronchoscopy or sputum induction, lung function testing, such as aerosolisation procedures.