We are doctors who have a background in general practice or hospital medicine and have done further training in occupational medicine. Occupational medicine is a speciality which focuses on the health of working adults. We provide advice to employers about either individual employees or groups of employees. The type of advice we give includes: supporting ill or disabled employees back to work so that they cope, fitness to work advice, Disability law advice, ill-health retirement advice, advice aiming to prevent and protect employees from ill-health or injury at work. Our core belief is that working in a job suitable for the individual's needs is fundamentally good for their health. Suitable work gives people better health both mentally and physically.

Your GP is your personal doctor who diagnoses and treats your medical problems. He or she has good knowledge of medical conditions but often little knowledge of the physical and mental demands of your job or employment law or health and safety law. An occupational health doctor has training in medicine, requirements of jobs (mental, physical, safety), support available from companies and other organisations, disability law, employment law and health and safety law.

No. Medical confidentiality is very important to occupational health doctors. If you ask for information to be kept private we will keep it. We will always request your permission to divulge any medical information to your employer that they do not know already. In very rare circumstance would we ever break your confidentiality (as do all doctors in the UK) e.g. life-threatening emergencies, major safety risks, protection of children (if a child is in danger), court order (serious criminal investigations). After speaking with you at the end of the discussion the doctor will discuss with you what will be written in the report back to your employer. If you wish we can give no medical information in the report but give the employer practical advice about your levels of fitness and capability for work. E.g. "Mr X has a medical condition which causes him to have difficulty using his fingers, he therefore cannot type...voice-activated software may help him." rather than "Mr X is suffering from multiple sclerosis..".

If an appointment is unsuitable please give us as much notice as possible so that we can give somebody else it. Either contact us by email telling us your name, appointment date, employers name or phone us. "Contact Us" has details of both.

Yes certainly as long as you do not mind them being present when details of your personal medical history or work are discussed. The appointment will be 30-60 minutes long.

Why does my company want me to see an occupational health doctor when I'm already seeing my GP?

If I discuss personal medical information with the occupational health doctor will they tell my employer?