A pre-placement health assessment, carried out by Occupational Health, assesses if you are medically fit to do the job.
The assessment is by questionnaire, and if necessary, a medical consultation. This checks your physical and mental ability to safely do the job.
You will be sent the form during the application process.
You should disclose any underlying health conditions. If you give false information your application may get rejected or your contract may be affected.
All sections of the form must be filled in. It must be returned to Occupational Health along with relevant immunisation information.
Attending the Occupational Health service
Assessing your fitness to do the job is usually based on your filled-in questionnaire. But, depending on your medical history, or the work you will be doing, you may get asked:
- for a GP report
- for a specialist report
- to attend for a medical assessment with the occupational health doctor
Your manager or HR will be sent a fitness to work certificate when all the criteria is met.
Confidentiality
The fitness to work certificate is sent either to your manager, HR or the recruiting officer. This will be specified on the first section of the form before you get it.
The certificate outlines your fitness for the role and includes any recommendations. No medical details are disclosed. Your medical information is kept confidential with Occupational Health.
Your data protection and occupational health
Doctors Integrated Management E-System (DIME)
Using the DIME database, doctors can share registration details, training, and employment history with prospective HSE employers.
Using the occupational health module in DIME doctors can complete:
- employment history
- sickness absence
- health and ability declaration
You must complete all the mandatory sections and submit to your Occupational Health department for verification.
As an NCHD, you can use the system to upload your immunisation documentation. Laboratory evidence and vaccinations performed in Republic of Ireland or United Kingdom only are currently accepted.
Additional blood tests and vaccinations may be required for NCHD posts requiring Exposure Prone Procedure (EPP) clearance. This may also be required for Interns.
NDTP Doctors Integrated Management E-System for more information and user guides.
Immunisation screening and vaccinations
Immunisation screening ensures you have adequate protection against certain infectious diseases. This is to safeguard your health and the health of service users.
Immunisation evidence is usually required for:
- BCG/evidence of immunity to Tuberculosis (TB)
- Hepatitis B antibodies
- Varicella
- Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
Immunisation screening and vaccinations required
The immunisation screening and vaccinations required depends on your job.
Risk assessments have been carried out to determine the vaccinations required.
These may differ based on the work role. For example, a catering officer in the canteen kitchen may not need vaccinations. But a catering officer on a ward may be at greater risk of exposure to infection and may need to get vaccinated.
If your work duties change you may need to complete a risk assessment. You can contact Occupational Health to arrange vaccinations if necessary.
For further guidance on vaccinations see chapter 4 of the Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland.
Getting your vaccinations
If you do not have the recommended vaccines for your role, you can contact Occupational Health (PDF, 474KB, 20 pages) to get your vaccinations. This can be done after you have started working in the HSE.
Once vaccinations are completed by Occupational Health, an immunisation report is sent to you. This report is necessary for any future healthcare roles and should be kept safe.
Screening and your pre-placement assessment
Prospective employees are requested to submit evidence of previous immunisation. This will not hold up the pre-placement assessment process unless the post requires EPP certification. See Exposure Prone Procedure section below.
Declining to get vaccinated
You can decline to get vaccinated. If you decline vaccination you must sign a declination form.
Depending on the risk to you and service users, you may be restricted from working in certain areas.
Getting vaccinated protects you and others around you.
Exposure prone procedure (EPP)
Exposure prone procedures (EPP) is where there is a risk that injury to the worker may expose the patient’s open tissues to the worker's blood.
These procedures include where the worker’s gloved hand, inside a patient's open body cavity or wound, may be in contact with:
- sharp instruments
- needle tips
- sharp tissues (spicules of bone or teeth)
This includes where the hands, fingertips or the worker may not be completely visible at all times. Examples are surgeons, dentists, midwives.
Exposure prone procedure (EPP) clearance
EPP healthcare workers must have:
- EPP certification, or
- evidence of relevant blood test results from an ‘Identified Validated Sample’ (IVS)
If you do not have either of these, you must attend Occupational Health for IVS bloods.
You will need to bring a passport or driver's licence for identification. This is so that the blood sample can get validated. The identification document is photocopied and signed by the clinician taking the blood. Your recruitment contact will advise you if your role requires EPP clearance. If it does, you will not be certified fit for the job, until the blood test results are available
Related content
Contact
Local occupational health contact details (PDF, 474KB, 20 pages)