GP Referral

We know many people are absent from work for a lot of different reasons, for example, mental health, musculoskeletal conditions and respiratory illness. Data shows us that many struggle to return to the workplace after being off work for more than four weeks. Having WorkWell involved at an early stage, can help prevent further problems and ease the return to work.

There are many benefits to GPs and patients when referring to WorkWell, it is:

•  a simple, easy to access, free service that specialises in health, disability and workplace challenges
• offering independent, practical information, advice and guidance on how to deal with health-related issues at work, all designed to help patients understand their options and move forward at a pace that they find comfortable
• a clear timeframe for support over six months
• a support service that allows people to benefit while they are off work. It also provides an alternative to issuing repeat fit notes (statements of fitness for work), which can often affect the return to work.

To be eligible you will be either:

• out-of-work and need health-related support to return to work or
• employed and either absent through sickness or struggling in the workplace due to a health condition.

You must also meet the following criteria:

• Your home address OR address of your GP/local Jobcentre Plus falls within the WorkWell Service, which is Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
• You are over 16.
• You have the right to work in the UK.