Students on professional programmes
If you are studying on a professionally regulated programme (PSRB) you may be required to complete pre-commencement health questionnaires and work with Occupational Health throughout your programme. Your faculty will give you more information on this throughout your degree.
Students on all other King’s programmes
Students who have been referred to Occupational Health for advice
You may have been referred to occupational Health by your program leader if there are concerns that your health may by affected by your studies, or that your health is impacting your ability to study.
The program leader should discuss the referral with you, explaining why it is being requested and the likely outcome. Referrals are made on the myOH portal by the program leader and managed by the school's administration teams.
These are some examples of situations where you may be referred to Occupational Health:
- Repeated episodes of short-term absence
- Difficulties returning to study after a serious illness/injury or a long period of sickness absence
- Concerns about a study-related health problem or an existing health condition being worsened by study activities
- Advice on reasonable adjustments following the diagnosis of a long-term health condition or declaration of a disability
After the referral appointment, Occupational Health will provide a report to the program leader or faculty education support team. You can view this report on the myOH portal. The report will include the facts surrounding the referral, specialist professional opinion, and recommendations regarding the issues raised.
King's recently changed occupational health providers
From 1 January 2024, our Occupational Health services and support to all our students and staff are provided by Optima Health.
If you are an undergraduate student, Optima Health will provide services and support instead of Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital.
If you are a postgraduate taught student, Optima Health will provide services and support instead of King’s College Hospital.
Who are Optima Health?
Optima Health are one of the leading occupational health providers in the UK, with unparalleled levels of clinical expertise in this field. They have many years’ experience of delivering occupational health services to large and complex organisations including other Higher Education Institute’s and NHS Trusts. They will provide the range of services needed to support our students and staff.
I'm currently using occupational health services, how will this change affect me?
You may currently be receiving occupational health support or have appointments booked for 2024. If that is the case, Optima Health will email you after 1 January once your records have been transferred from our former providers to ensure the seamless transition of your care. This will include re-confirming any upcoming appointments you have with them instead and managing ongoing support where needed. From 1 January 2024, face-to-face appointments will be held at a different clinic venue than previously. See Where do I go for my appointments from January 2024?
Will the new provider have my occupational health records?
If you have an occupational health record, it has been securely transferred to Optima Health from our former providers, unless you told us in writing by 30 November 2023 you didn’t want this to happen. We emailed all staff and students about this on 16 November 2023.
Optima Health are bound by the same rules on confidentiality as all other health care providers and will only release confidential health information to another person with your consent. Optima Health's full statement on Privacy is available on their privacy policy webpage.
Appointments will be delivered via telephone, online via Teams or in-person and will be confirmed in your appointment details, so please check carefully. If your appointment is in-person, the location will be:
Optima Health, HQ, Third Floor
344-354 Gray's Inn Road
London
WC1X 8BP
From Strand Campus: 20-minute journey via Piccadilly line from Covent Garden to St Pancras
From Denmark Hill Campus: 35-minute journey via Thameslink from Loughborough Junction to St Pancras
From Waterloo Campus: 30-minute journey via 63 Bus from Stamford Street to King’s Cross
It may sometimes be possible for clinical appointments to be delivered on campus at King’s. If this is the case, the location will be confirmed in your appointment details.
How can I contact Optima Health if I'm receiving occupational health support?
You can reach the Optima Health Customer Service Team via:
- Telephone: 01327 810777
Who can I talk to about Occupational Health referrals?
If you have questions or concerns about the change in provider, contact Andrew Nicoll, Head of Workplace Health at King’s.
If you are studying a professionally regulated programme (PSRB) and have questions about occupational health, contact your faculty or department.
If you would like to discuss whether Occupational Health is the right support service for you, or you are already receiving support from occupational health and would like to talk to someone at King’s about the service, you can reach out to your Faculty Wellbeing Advisor, who will be happy to speak with you.
Who can I talk to about contamination with body fluids?
If you are on a professionally regulated programme (PSRB) and need advice following contamination with blood or body fluids (such as needlestick injuries, bite or spit incidents), contact the below as soon as possible after the exposure incident:
- Optima Health Customer Service team: 0113 350 6063 (Monday - Friday, 08.00-17.00)
- CareFirst line 0800 413 324 (Out of hours)
The clinical helpline practitioners will assess, support and signpost you to emergency treatment.
For more information, read our article Staying safe on healthcare placements: Infection prevention and needlestick injuries.