Health promotion

Back care awareness

Musculoskeletal disorders have been identified as a major cause of chronic disability in the UK and one of the commonest reasons for referral into secondary care. This is a problem for both patients and organisations, because musculoskeletal disorders can cause pain, disability and socio-economic losses.

Musculoskeletal disorders are the biggest cause of days lost from work. In particular, back pain accounts for almost 120 million days of certified absence from work each year and about 50% of patients who are off work for more than six months may never return to employment again. The lack of early access to appropriate services means that factors that predict chronicity in common musculoskeletal disorders, such as back pain, cannot be addressed sufficiently early, which compounds the problem.

The physiotherapy service at the occupational health and wellbeing centre is an early access service for staff at the Royal Free London. The occupational health physiotherapist treats a wide variety of musculoskeletal disorders including muscle, nerve, joint and ligament complaints resulting from or impacting on your work, in order to support you remain in or return to work.

Vaccinations for healthcare workers

For information about vaccines that are offered to healthcare workers, please read our document, vaccinations for healthcare workers. Please contact the occupational health and wellbeing centre for more information, or see the useful links section below.

Tuberculosis

If you have concerns regarding exposure to tuberculosis (TB) or if you are planning to travel to a country of high TB incidence please contact your local travel clinic for information and advice or please contact the occupational health and wellbeing centre at either Chase Farm Hospital or the Royal Free Hospital.

Seasonal flu

Every year, the influenza vaccination is offered to NHS staff as a way to reduce the risk of staff contracting the seasonal flu virus and transmitting it to patients or their family members. Find out more about the flu vaccination for NHS staff.

Further details about our flu protocol can be found on the intranet.

Useful links

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