Yorkshire businesses are being offered better access to occupational health with the launch of a new £1.6m workplace health and wellbeing centre in Bradford.

The centre at Bradford Royal Infirmary’s Field House was officially opened yesterday by the Government’s Director for Health and Work, Professor Dame Carol Black.

It is one of 11 new sites around England to improveme to NHS occupational health services and improve access to local businesses.

The centre will provide healthcare services, like hearing assessments and sickness absence referrals to more than 10,000 employees both in the NHS and across a wide range of West Yorkshire industries.

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Chairman, David Richardson, said the benefits of promoting good health at work and maintaining staff well-being were well recognised.

“We’re absolutely delighted that Bradford was chosen to be one of just 11 Department of Health and NHS Plus-funded sites across the country that will deliver these important services to both employees and employers,” he said.

“By offering a one-stop shop support to smaller businesses and companies, we can ensure that local industry delivers an occupational health service to their staff which is second-to-none.

“We’re honoured that the new centre has been opened by Dame Carol, who is one of the country’s most senior doctors and one of the most distinguished women in medicine.”

Facilities include a rehabilitation gym, a counselling suite and an audio booth where specialists can carry out hearing tests, as well as ten consulting rooms where nurse advisors and physicians will carry out health assessments.

Salim Akhtar, business development manager at the Workplace Health and Wellbeing Centre, said: “Our services are provided by a multidisciplinary team including occupational health physicians, specialist occupational health nurses, counsellors and physiotherapists and there are plans to expand this and the services offered.”

“Staff can either come to the Workplace Health and Wellbeing Centre based at the BRI, to our satellite unit at St Luke’s Hospital, or our new mobile clinic can provide services direct to your workplace.”

Other services include pre-employment screening, workplace vaccinations, sickness absence management, DSE assessments, physiotherapy, training around health and safety and future services include plans for podiatry.

If your business is interested in finding out more, please contact Salim Akhtar on (01274) 383668.