The new £2.5M contract, signed by representatives from Queen’s and the Belfast Trust, will extend the Trust’s provision of an occupational health service for the University until 31 October 2028. 

Gillian Magee, Vice President and Chief People Officer at Queen’s, commented: “The health and wellbeing of our staff and student body is of paramount importance. I am therefore delighted to announce the extension of the highly professional occupational health service that will provide timely, expert support to our staff and student body through the Belfast Trust. This partnership with the Belfast Trust reflects Queen’s commitment to supporting our incredible staff and students and represents a significant step forward in ensuring the health and wellbeing of our University community.” 

The new extended Service Level Agreement (SLA) provides for enhanced provision including: 

• additional physician staffing time; 

• an allowance for additional Occupational Health nursing and administrative staff at peak times; 

• flexibility to accommodate additional work, projects or activities, which may be beneficial for service delivery; 

• a new process for Travel Vaccination clinics; 

• and an expansion of the Occupational Health Clinic at 5 Lennoxvale, which will house a new spirometry room. 
  

Pictured L-R: (Front) Caroline Parkes (Belfast Trust), Dr Martin Tohill (Belfast Trust), Gillian Magee (Queen's University Belfast), Conor Curran (Queen's University Belfast); (Back) Jackie O’Rourke (Belfast Trust), Clare Briggs (Queen's University Belfast), Adèle Davidson (Queen's University Belfast), Helen McNeely (Queen's University Belfast), Richard McElnay (Queen's University Belfast)

The Occupational Health Service is in addition to the University’s Employee Assistance Programme Service, delivered by Inspire Wellbeing, an independent charity which provides staff and students with access to resources and support to help them deal with personal and professional problems affecting their home or work life and general wellbeing. 

Conor Curran, Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Staff Wellbeing at Queen’s, commented: “Our new occupational health services contract will consolidate parts of our service which have always worked well, and address areas identified for development over the next five years – ensuring that Queen’s staff and students continue to receive professional occupational health support in a timely, efficient and professional manner at Lennoxvale.” 

Helen McNeely, Head of Student and Academic Affairs at Queen’s, said: “Supporting our students to be healthy learners is core to the education strand of Queen’s Strategy 2030. The Occupational Health Service provides an invaluable service to the University and the team has built up a wealth of knowledge on the issues which impact students. I am therefore delighted that their contract has been renewed and we look forward to continuing to work alongside the team at Occupational Health to support our students.”    

 

Further information 

Find out more about Queen’s Occupational Health Service on the People and Culture website.