THE team responsible for helping with workplace health concerns at Oxfordshire's major hospitals has been praised for rising to the 'immense challenge' of keeping staff safe during the pandemic.
Before Covid-19, the occupational health and wellbeing team would advise staff at the John Radcliffe, Churchill and Horton hospitals and the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre on a range of health issues. These include sickness absence, physiotherapy, health surveillance, fitness for work, and wellbeing.
But when the pandemic hit earlier in the year, the team’s workload suddenly increased.
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For about six months now, they have also provided a testing service for staff with symptoms of Covid-19 and contact tracing for staff who test positive for the virus, in addition to supporting the health of the workforce dealing with a pandemic.
Working closely with the infection prevention and control and microbiology teams at Oxford University Hospitals, they were joined by the Hepatitis C Community Team, retired and returning members of staff, research staff and medical students, all of whom offered their help as demand peaked.
Together, they joined forces not only to carry out the huge task of rapidly testing OUH staff and their household members, but also to provide specific advice to thousands of staff with concerns regarding their Covid-19 vulnerability.
The West Wing at the John Radcliffe Hospital
As well as supporting Oxford University Hospitals’ staff, the team also cares for staff employed indirectly through other contracts, agency staff, members of the medical school, and healthcare students.
Fiona Warren, OUH occupational health manager, said: “I am so proud of the team for all they’ve done during Covid-19.
“This whole process has all been about adapting to what’s around you.
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“The team have taken everything that’s been thrown at them and responded amazingly to provide the much-needed support to staff during a very difficult time.
“There have been challenges - not least the increase in demand but also these continually evolving new work streams and the logistics around people working remotely or in different locations.
“Many of our team had to go from doing face to face consultations to carrying them out virtually or by telephone, but they’ve adapted to this whole new model of work brilliantly.
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Terry Roberts
“We’ve been incredibly grateful to those who have stepped in to help us, too - whether it be retired midwives, returning staff members or our consultant dermatologist who has been helping with all of the workplace skin issues related to working during the pandemic. Many trust consultants have kindly advised in complex staff health matters and our Psychological Medicine colleagues have been fantastic, providing OUH staff with compassionate and helpful support in what have been the most challenging of times.”
Terry Roberts, OUH chief people officer, said: “Our occupational health team has made us all incredibly proud.
"The health and wellbeing of our staff is paramount at all times, but never more than when we are faced with the huge challenge of Covid-19.”
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