Network Rail Occupational Health Provision - Wessex Route

Dear Colleague

NETWORK RAIL OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PROVISION – WESSEX ROUTE

Following correspondence from Network Rail the General Grades Committee have noted and adopted the following report from their Health and Safety Sub-committee.

“We note the correspondence from Network Rail dated 3rd April 2013, and that the proposals will lead to different Occupational Health providers for Network Rail employees nationally.

We instruct the General Secretary to write to Network Rail and seek assurances that all Network Rail employees nationally will have the same Occupational Health Provider.

Network Rail are proposing to use the in-house South West Trains provider as part of the deep alliance for the following:

  • Periodic/Competence Specific Assessments
  • Health Surveillance Screening and Assessments (Hand Arm Vibration, Noise, Night-workers etc)
  • Management of Attendance and Rehabilitation eg: management referrals/case management
  • Pre-employment Health Screening and Assessments
  • Wellbeing Programmes
  • Physiotherapy (via Nuffield)

We believe Network Rail intention to off-load Occupational Health services to the in-house South West Trains provider is a cynical move that is purely based on business reasons.

We instruct the General Secretary to obtain details of the Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme Nurse Services.

We further instruct the General Secretary to ensure that no consultation takes place on this matter unless authorised by the General Grades Committee.

Any further developments to be placed back before this General Grades Committee.

Branches & Regional Councils to be advised.

I have written to the company in line with the Decision but it is important that any representative that is approached by the company in regards to consultation on this matter should not attend any meeting but should instead report the approach to the Health and Safety Section at Head Office. I will keep you informed of developments with this case.

Please bring the contents of this circular to the attention of relevant members.

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow

General Secretary