Doctor-led Occupational Health Assessments
Bristol · Chepstow · South Wales · Remote · On-site UK-wide
WorkAble Occupational Health provides doctor‑led occupational health assessments in Bristol and Chepstow or remotely. OH assessments are undertaken by Dr Greg Palka, a GMC‑registered occupational health physician with HSE, FOM and SOM credentials.
Appointments can be booked online 24/7, and are usually available within two days, in‑clinic, by video or on‑site at your workplace (peripatetic OH service, fees apply).
Managers receive a clear, actionable OH Report with defensible medical advice within 2 days of the OH assessment.
Each assessment costs £300 pay‑as‑you‑go; no contract or retainer is required. Please contact us for post-paid service.
What is an Occupational Health Assessment?
An occupational health assessment (also called a management referral) is a confidential consultation with an occupational health physician or occupational health nurse (adviser). It gives employers independent advice on how a health condition affects an employee’s ability to do their job, and suggests adjustments and support for the employer’s consideration.
Who this service is for ›
This service is for employers who need an independent medical opinion on an employee’s fitness for work.
Managers or HR advisers usually refer employees when there is long‑term sickness absence or repeated short‑term absences and they need to plan a safe and fair return to work.
It is also appropriate where there are performance or attendance concerns with a possible health cause, or safety‑critical tasks such as driving, operating plant or working at height.
Referrals can be made before formal capability, redeployment or ill‑health retirement decisions, so that medical evidence can be considered.
It is suitable for most sectors, including construction, transport, logistics, energy, offshore, health and social care, education, manufacturing, IT, emergency services and public sector roles.
What can an occupational health assessment address ›
- Sickness absence: current health, planned treatments, estimated return-to-work date, prognosis and recommended support.
- Return to work: fitness for work, phased return, adjustments, short- or long-term, signposting to support.
- Performance or attendance: whether there is an underlying medical cause and what support may help.
- Capability, redeployment or ill-health retirement: long-term fitness, permanent adjustments or medical grounds for redeployment or ill-health retirement.
- Legal compliance: opinion on the Equality Act 2010, and where relevant, RIDDOR, COSHH and statutory health surveillance such as HAVS, work-related skin or respiratory problems or noise-induced hearing loss.
What is in the occupational health report ›
The Occupational Health Report provides clear, actionable information for the employer’s consideration:
- The health problem(s) affecting work, current and planned treatment and the estimated prognosis.
- Detailed advice on temporary restrictions or adjustments, e.g., phased return, temporarily reduced duties or hours.
- If required, recommended long-term adjustments, e.g., redeployment to less demanding work, reduction in hours or advice on ill-health retirement.
- Other issues: concerns about alcohol or substance use, DVLA fitness to drive, or the impact of specific learning difficulties, dyslexia, ADHD or autism.
Our OH Physicians’ Reports are legally defensible and compliant with the Good Occupational Health Practice, the Equality Act 2010, and UK GDPR.
Where are the Occupational Health Assessments Available?
We offer clinics in Bristol (BS34) and Chepstow (NP16), serving employers in Bristol, Monmouthshire, Newport, Gloucestershire, Cardiff and the wider South Wales and South West regions.
Remote video or telephone assessments are available UK‑wide.
Peripatetic, on-site occupational health physician service: for larger bookings, we can arrange on‑site visits to your workplace fees apply. This can be helpful for shift‑based teams, industrial sites, and organisations needing multiple assessments on the same day.
How to Refer to Occupational Health?
1. Obtain Employee’s Consent
First, discuss the referral with your employee and obtain their informed consent. Explain why you are referring, what will be discussed, and that the report will focus on work and adjustments, not every detail of their medical history. You can use our Referral Form as a prompt or discuss our Sample Occupational Health Reports.
2. Book Online and Complete Referral to OH (top of this page)
Next, book online and choose a clinic or remote appointment time. During booking, complete the online referral form with job details, sickness history and specific questions for the doctor. If you prefer, you can email a completed MS Word Referral Form instead.
3. Occupational Health Assessment and Report
The doctor reviews the referral and carries out the assessment. After the assessment, the report is usually issued within two working days. You should then review the advice with HR and line management, consider reasonable adjustments, and document the decisions you take under your policies and the Equality Act 2010.
4. Follow-up if needed
In complex cases, the doctor may recommend a follow-up review or a GP or consultant report, with the employee’s consent. These attract additional fees.
Compliance, Confidentiality and Consent
Health records are special category data under Article 9 of UK GDPR. WorkAble Occupational Health is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office. Records are accessible only to authorised clinical staff.
Reports for employers contain only job‑relevant medical information. Employees may see the full report before it is sent to the employer. They can ask questions, add comments or correct factual errors, but they cannot require the doctor to change a professional opinion (more information).
Employees may withdraw consent before the report is released, except in rare safety‑critical situations. This approach aligns with GMC, Faculty of Occupational Medicine and ICO guidance on consent and confidentiality.
For more details, see our Data Protection and Confidentiality Policy
Our Clinical Expertise
All assessments are carried out by Dr Greg Palka, an occupational health physician with over twenty years of clinical experience.
He is a GMC‑registered Occupational Health Physician, holds an MSc in Occupational Medicine, has an HSE appointment for statutory health surveillance, and is an Associate of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine and a member of the Society of Occupational Medicine.
Dr Palka has advised employers in construction, transport, logistics, energy and offshore wind, manufacturing, health and social care, education, emergency services, IT and central and local government.
This breadth of experience helps ensure reports are realistic, legally robust and practical for real workplaces.
Consultations can be conducted in Polish for Polish‑speaking employees, with the management report written in plain English. Remote Polish‑language assessments are available across the UK.
For related services, you may see our Services and Prices page and our Occupational Health Library.
FAQs: Occupational Health Assessments for UK employers
What is an occupational health assessment?
An occupational health assessment is a confidential medical consultation with an occupational health clinician, a doctor or a nurse. It gives the employer independent expert advice on how a health condition affects the employee’s ability to work.
Is an occupational health assessment mandatory?
No. There is usually no legal requirement to refer, but it is often a sensible step when health affects attendance, performance or safety. The assessment provides evidence to help you meet duties under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and the Equality Act 2010
How can an occupational health assessment help with long-term sickness absence?
An occupational health assessment in long-term absence provides a review of an employee’s health, treatment plan, and prognosis during long-term sickness absence. It helps employers understand the return-to-work timeframe, workplace adjustments or restrictions, capability, redeployment or ill health retirement, if required.
How much does an occupational health assessment cost in Bristol?
Our pay-as-you-go occ health assessments are priced at £300 both in Bristol and remotely. We offer discounts for group referrals. This includes a 45-minute consultation (remote or at our Bristol OH clinic), a detailed report compliant with GDPR, GMC, FOM and HSE standards. We can prioritise urgent cases; please contact us or book online.
What workplace adjustments are recommended after an occupational health check?
The OH report recommends adjustments for the employer’s consideration. The employer decides whether and how to implement them. Common adjustments include:
- Role modifications for safety-critical or other roles (e.g., HGV drivers, construction or engineering workers), night shift or healthcare staff.
- Phased returns, flexible or shorter hours, additional breaks
- Risk assessments for ergonomic hazards
- More flexible attendance thresholds and other adjustments, temporary or permanent
- Statutory advice on fitness for work for workers exposed to hand-transmitted vibration or workers with noise-induced hearing loss.
How does a remote occupational health physician assess fitness for work?
Our FOM and GMC-accredited occ health physicians review medical history, current and planned treatment and job demands. If required, we may offer an examination at our Bristol occ health clinic or contact the employee’s GP for up-to-date evidence-based medical information.
What should employers include in an occupational health referral form?
We provide an online referral template after the booking is made. The template includes:
- Employee and job details
- Reason for referral (e.g., frequent or long-term absence, return to work after sickness absence, performance concerns, health surveillance)
- Specific questions for the occ health physician
- Employee consent.
Are occupational health assessments confidential?
Yes. Only job-relevant medical details are shared with employers, with employee consent and after a prior sight. Records are stored on UK-based servers, accessible only to authorised clinical staff, in line with UK GDPR Article 9 and ICO registration.
Can I book occupational health assessment in Polish?
Yes. Dr Greg Palka conducts assessments entirely in Polish for employees whose first language is Polish. More information about Polish-language OH assessments.
Last Update June 2026 by Workable OH