I’d like to share my best experience as an Occupational Health Nurse Advisor, I believe it’s a real indication of what the role encompasses and a great example of working together to reach the optimal goal. For more information, I’d highly recommend you read how the Faculty of Occupational Medicine define the role of Occupational Health professionals. It’s quite the read but still very informative (www.fom.ac.uk).
In this specific experience, I was working as the case worker for a 39-year-old firefighter, who had collapsed while on duty at the Fire Station. Fortunately, his colleagues helped to resuscitate him at the time, and he was transported to the hospital. He was diagnosed with Glioma, a common but still dangerous form of tumour originating in the brain. Around 33% of all brain tumours are gliomas which press on the brain and spinal cord, with its symptoms appearing slowly and difficult to catch, meaning it’s of the upmost importance to catch it early on. Although Glioma is typically a grade 1-2 type Cancer, unfortunately the firefighter was diagnosed with stage 3.
The firefighter went through surgery, undergoing a craniotomy (opening of the skull). Following the surgery, he recovered all his functions and embarked on his rehabilitation programme, which is where I worked with him. He engaged with occupational health with one focus, to resume his duties working on the fire appliance. My colleagues and I supported him to achieve the best of all occupational health management referral outcomes – namely to resume full operational duties as a firefighter. His diet and exercise regime were exemplary, and he progressed to resuming work, despite his prior diagnosis.
Occupational Health exists to try to fit the employee to the job and the job to the employee, with extraordinary outcomes if occupational health HR management and the employee work tirelessly to achieve the optimal outcome.
For more information of how occupational health can help you, make an enquiry here https://valentineoh.co.uk/contact/ or give us a call.
