MSK referral to Occupational Health process

For advice please e-mail the OH clinical mailbox: aa.Clinical_OccupationalHealth_Physiotherapy_XH

The Occupational Health (OH) Physiotherapy service provides support to staff members with MSK problems impacting on work. OH Physiotherapists work in partnership with the wider OH team of nurses, Consultant in Occupational Medicine and occupational therapist, providing expert advice and support to Division Managers, HR colleagues and GPs with the aim of achieving a settled employment outcome.

The Occupational Health Physiotherapy Service provides assessment and treatment for staff with work-related MSK problems. Resources are targeted to those staff off work, or at risk of being off work, due to their MSK problem. Some staff are triaged to the MSK physiotherapy service due to resource constraints.
The OH physiotherapy service offers reviews for members of staff who are not progressing as expected within the MSK service.

Prompts for OH physiotherapy review are:

• Significant work based factors

Clinical work based: Off work or struggling at work due to MSK problem / pain levels. Would benefit from OH support to prevent sickness absence or facilitate return to work, e.g. temporary reduction in hours, change to shift pattern, rehabilitation placement.

Work driven: Significant work based pain drivers. Would benefit from support of wider OH team, e.g. relationships at work, stress.

• Significant clinical factors

  Investigation / injection therapy sought: To support member of staff to stay at work / return to work.

• Poor outcome to date / opinion on management

Who not to refer

• Patient with red flags (refer to appropriate speciality)
• Staff with MSK problems not impacting on their work.