Occupational Health
Important information on management of needle stick injury, splash and bite incidents (PDF 
, 133kb)
For Department of Health Sciences undergraduate healthcare students only.
In order to start on an undergraduate healthcare programme leading to registration at the University of York, you are required to complete a health questionnaire to ensure you are fit to enrol at the University and fit for practice placements. Once on the programme, you may also require an assessment by Occupational Health for an existing health condition or if your health changes and you may require additional support.
Who provides occupational health services?
The University of York, Department of Health Sciences has contracted OHWorks Ltd to provide occupational health services for all our undergraduate nursing and midwifery students.
OHWorks Ltd utilises the latest electronic processes which include online pre-admission health questionnaires and referrals. OHWorks Ltd are committed to maintaining your privacy, dignity and confidentiality at all times and adhere to the principles of the Data Protection Act (2018) GDPR, and the GMC and NMC codes of confidentiality.
Students referred to occupational health will be offered either a telephone consultation, an appointment using FaceTime or Skype or a face to face health assessment at the on-site clinics held in the Department of Health Sciences. The type of the appointment will depend on the nature of the referral.
Before you start an undergraduate nursing or midwifery course with us
Before starting a course with us, you will be invited to complete an online health questionnaire. This is part of the clearance process and you will not be allowed to commence your programme if you have not completed your health questionnaire. You have a duty to provide all relevant, truthful and accurate information to OHWorks Ltd and no information should be withheld.
Following the completion of the questionnaire and the health screening process, some students are identified as having a long term health condition. To ensure you are fully supported on your programme, we may review you during your first term to establish if you require any additional support and/or adjustments both when in theory and also during your practice placements.
As a healthcare student, you must comply with the Department of Health guidelines on immunisations and screening to protect you and your patients during the course of your work. We therefore require you to be vaccinated for some infectious diseases before you commence your practice placement if you do not already have immunity.
Criteria for clearance
OHWorks will issue a fitness certificate to you and the University once you have met the following conditions:
- Health questionnaire clearance
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At least one dose of Hepatitis B vaccine OR evidence of immunity
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At least one dose of MMR vaccine OR evidence of immunity to measles and rubella
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At least one dose of Varicella vaccine OR evidence of immunity to varicella
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TB screening and vaccination where required
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One dose of Pertussis containing vaccine within the past 5 years (Midwifery and Children’s Nursing only)
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Exposure Prone Procedure (EPP) screening (where required).
Full information for nursing and midwifery students can be found in A guide to immunisation, screening and health clearance (PDF , 645kb).
While you are on your undergraduate nursing or midwifery course with us
During your time on your programme, there may be a requirement for you to contact occupational health for example if you sustain a needle or splash injury. Some students may experience changes to their health and need to be reviewed by occupational health. As well as supporting you for any health conditions, occupational health will also be able to assess whether any further adjustments are necessary to help support you in your practice placements.
Skin health
Useful information regarding skin health for students can be found in A guide to skin health (PDF , 466kb).