STW New Occupational Health Provider from 1st October 2025 – Heales Medical

New Occupational Health Service for NHS Primary Care – including Community Pharmacy Contractors

A new Occupational Health service from Heales Medical will be available to NHS Primary Care practitioners and practices operating within STW ICB from 1st October 2025. This is a new joint contract alongside NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB. Heales Medical are an established provider of Occupational Health (OH) services providing high quality, easy to access services to the NHS since 2017.

The OH service is being provided in line with NHS National Occupational Health Specification, to ensure all NHS Practitioners working in Primary Care Settings in England have access to a consistent and equitable occupational health service. The OH services are provided in three distinct elements, which are described as schedules I, II, and III:

• Schedule Ia: which will be funded by the ICB and provide services to all staff working in primary care in relation to potential exposure to blood borne viruses. Additional services will be available to members of the NPL in regards to virology, vaccinations and immunisations.
• Schedule Ib: which will be funded by NHS England including a core service for performers registered on the National Performers List (NPL).
• Schedule II: which will be self-funded by applicants to the NPL in support of their application including Occupational Health screening, vaccinations and immunisation.
• Schedule III: an OH service made available to independent primary care contractors in support of their employer responsibility.

(Further details are lower down in this email)

Please find attached welcome documents as below:

HM_NHS Welcome Brochure_2025_v1.02_STW ICB

HM_Employee_NSI Poster with ODS code_2024

HM_Employee_NSI Information brochure_2025_v1.00

HM_NSI What Happens Next

Management Referral Form

How to contact Heales Medical

If you have a needlestick, sharps or splash injury please call 03333 449 089.

Further information is provided via the website at https://www.heales.com/index.php/type-of-organisation/nhs-occupational-health/

Management referrals to be made via the attached form until the online portal has been finalised. Please share the completed forms with Terri (terri.whyman@heales.com) for processing.

**Please note that the service provided under Schedule Ib will only cover those on the National Performer List (NPL) such as GPs, Dentists and some Ophthalmic Performers ie NOT community pharmacists; however needlestick injuries (as per Schedule Ia) is available for all primary care staff (including those working in community pharmacies)**

 Schedules I, II, and III Explained

 Under Schedule Ia, the comprehensive ICB funded Occupational Health service will include;

• Virology testing, vaccination for BBV and immunisation for performers on the NPL.
• Urgent and longer term advice to all staff working in primary care settings (including trainees) on exposure to potential blood borne viruses (e.g. through contact via needle stick injuries or contact with mucus membranes) as required. Support is provided via a telephone helpline which is accessed by calling 03333 449 006.

Under Schedule Ib, the comprehensive NHS England funded Occupational Health service will include;

• Enhanced Occupational Health Assessment for NPL Practitioners via an easy-to-use secure online portal (or via email or post if preferred).
• Advice and report in respect of performer list practitioners in relation to their duties or to support their health, safety and well-being. Referrals can be made either via our secure online portal or via or in writing using the contact details at the bottom of this letter.

Schedule II services, which are self-funded by the NPL applicant will provide:

• Occupational Health screening/clearance for entry to the National Performers List.
• Virology testing and immunisation as part of application to the National Performers List.
• This is a self-referral service pathway and the applicant should contact Heales Medical directly to commence their assessment using the details at the bottom of this letter.

Services accessed under Schedule III are invoiced directly to the practice, are funded by the practice and are provided in support of their employer responsibility:

• The broad aims of the services are to prevent ill health arising as a result of work, to assist with the appropriate placement of people at work and to promote the establishment and maintenance of high standards of the physical and mental well-being in all staff.
• The objective is to provide easy to access, high quality services that support employers and primary care staff by providing assessment in relation to the following:
  • prolonged/recurrent sickness absence and return to work after sickness absence or accident.
  • work related ill health, fitness to work.
  • periodic health assessment where a risk assessment has indicated that this is required i.e. COSSH.
  • ill health retirement.
  • advice in relation to injuries and ill when appropriate.
  • advice on onward referral e.g. counselling.

 Provision of Occupational Health Services – services funded by the Primary Care Contractor

As you will already be aware independent contractors have a duty of care for their own staff and as such are responsible for funding any referrals into Occupational Health for those staff not covered, as described above. To make arrangements with any suitable local provider – please see the following link for a list of accredited providers which includes the local provider: https://www.seqohs.org/Accreditedunits.aspx?ShowInfo=1

Primary care services contract holders are responsible for funding the below services as part of their employer responsibilities to their staff.

These include:

• Occupational Health pre-employment screening/clearance: Occupational Health assessments as required for all staff working in their organisation, as required.
• Virology testing, vaccination for blood borne viruses (BBVs) and immunisation: Available to all staff who are not already immunised, and includes Hepatitis B, Varicella, Tuberculosis (BCG), Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus, Measles Mumps and Rubella.
• Enhanced/other Occupational Health assessments: This may include a range of different Occupational Health assessments or support needed for all staff including:

• Assist in the appropriate placement of people at work, taking into account their physical and mental health, and prevent ill health arising as a result of work done or the conditions in which work is done
• Enhancing staff performance and morale through reducing risks at work which lead to ill health, staff absence and accidents
• Protect the public from any adverse consequences arising as a result of ill health or infected primary care staff
• Review prolonged/recurrent sickness absence and support return to work after sickness absence or following an accident
• Advice on ill health retirement
• Periodic health assessment for example: radiation, COSHH regulations or where risk assessment has indicated that this is required
• advice on onward referral to other services that could support staff e.g. counselling.

STW ICB Primary Care Team