Pennine Acute occupational health team leads the way in the north of England

Pennine Acute Trust’s occupational health team proudly displays their SEQOHS certificate of accreditation

The occupational health team at The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is the first NHS Trust in the north of England – and only the third in the country – to be awarded the coveted accreditation for excellence in occupational health service delivery.

The accreditation awarded by the Safe, Effective, Quality, Occupational Health Standards Scheme (SEQOHS), means that the department will become a preferred provider of occupational health services to the NHS and other public and private sector organisations.

Assessors from the scheme, which is managed by the Royal College of Physicians of London on behalf of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine, visited the Trust on 27 July 2011. The team of assessors spent the day touring the department, reviewing documentation and processes and interviewing staff. A selection of service users were also asked to complete a satisfaction survey to provide feedback on the service.

Assessment for accreditation is measured against the SEQOHS standards, which were developed by the Faculty of Occupational Medicine in collaboration with a variety of organisations including the Department of Health, BUPA Wellness and the University of Liverpool. The standards cover a range of areas including information governance, facilities, ensuring appropriate clinical supervision and effective staff training.

In a letter from the assessors, the team - which provides occupational health services to more than 80,000 people from 150 public and private sector organisations - was congratulated on their high standard of achievement.

The team offers a range of services including medical assessments of employee’s health at work, immunisation programmes for staff, counselling and work place assessment screening. They have been awarded the accreditation for a period of five years.

John Wilkes, director of facilities at Pennine Acute Trust, said: “The award confirms and demonstrates the Trust’s commitment to providing a quality occupational health service to its staff.

“The SEQOHS scheme aims to raise the overall standard of care provided by occupational health services across the country. It is fantastic news therefore that we are the first NHS Trust within the north and only the third Trust in England to be awarded the accreditation.

“The assessors were extremely complimentary and impressed by the quality of our service. They have identified many areas of excellence which they have asked us to share as examples of best practice to benefit of other occupational health departments.”

The Trust runs North Manchester General Hospital, The Royal Oldham Hospital, Fairfield General Hospital in Bury, Rochdale Infirmary and services at Birch Hill.