New standards for quality and safety in Occupational Health Services

Occupational Health Teams provide medical and nursing expertise on fitness for work, advice on workplace adjustments, prevention of ill health and promotion of health and wellbeing. They play a key role in rehabilitation by advising on optional treatment strategies, early intervention and timely return to work for healthcare workers.

The new Standards for the Irish health service were launched during the Workplace Health and Wellbeing Unit’s inaugural national conference held in the Education Centre, Tallaght Hospital, Dublin.

Speaking at the launch, Ms Rosarii Mannion, HSE National Director for Human Resources, said: “The aim of these standards is to help drive improvements in the quality and safety of Occupational Health Services in Ireland. Their purpose is to help the healthcare worker, all those who use Occupational Health Services and the staff who provide these services better understand what a high quality, safe Occupational Health Service looks like. They also aim to promote consistency of service delivery throughout the country.”

Dr Lynda Sisson, Clinical Lead for Workplace Health and Wellbeing Unit, said: “The Occupational Health Service standards have been developed by healthcare professionals within the Irish service. Using the HIQA Safer Better Care Model, the standards are specific to the Irish health service and have been developed by a broad stakeholder group comprising occupational health professionals and allied staff who have worked in various sectors nationally and internationally. The Standards are fundamental to our health service and are grouped according to five themes – worker centred care, safe and effective care, leadership and governance, workforce planning and the use of Information.”