Frequently Asked Questions
HealthBridge is led by Dr James Stanley, a GMC-registered GP with over 14 years of clinical experience in NHS and private practice. Dr Stanley founded HealthBridge to bring fast, accessible, GP-led occupational health support to employers and employees who need it - particularly smaller organisations that have historically been underserved by traditional occupational health providers.
As a GP, Dr Stanley brings a broad clinical perspective to every assessment, one built on over a decade of diagnosing and managing the full range of conditions that affect people's ability to work, from mental health and musculoskeletal problems to chronic illness and neurodiversity.
Every HealthBridge assessment is conducted personally by Dr Stanley, meaning clients receive consistent, clinician-led advice rather than being passed between assessors.
The service is further supported by a network of trusted specialist affiliates who can provide input where required, including mental health practitioners, musculoskeletal specialists, and other employee wellbeing professionals.
That depends on who you are currently using, but here are the differences most commonly noted by employers who come to HealthBridge.
Speed: Most large providers operate waiting lists of several weeks for appointments and further weeks for reports. HealthBridge offers appointments within 3 to 5 working days and reports within 3 to 5 working days of the consultation.
Consistency: Every assessment is conducted personally by Dr James Stanley, a GMC-registered GP with over 14 years of clinical experience. You work with the same clinician every time, not whoever is available that week.
GP-led: HealthBridge assessments bring a broad clinical perspective built on over a decade of diagnosing and managing the full range of conditions that affect people's ability to work. That depth changes the quality of the report.
Transparent pricing: Fees are published clearly with no hidden costs, no minimum volume commitments, and no long term contracts. Scope and price are confirmed in writing before any work begins.
Built for smaller organisations: HealthBridge was designed specifically for businesses that need flexible, ad hoc occupational health support without being tied into contracts built for much larger organisations.
If you would like to discuss how HealthBridge compares to your current arrangements, feel free to contact us at contact@healthbridge.org.uk
Yes. HealthBridge carries full professional indemnity insurance appropriate for it's private medical services, provided through the Medical Protection Society (MPS), one of the UK's leading medical defence organisations.
Employers and employees can engage with HealthBridge with confidence that every assessment is conducted by a fully indemnified, GMC-registered clinician operating within recognised professional and ethical standards.
No. Dr Stanley does not currently hold the Diploma in Occupational Medicine (DipOccMed). This is something we are transparent about because we believe clarity on this point matters.
HealthBridge is a GP-led occupational health service, not an occupational physician-led one. Dr Stanley is a GMC-registered GP with over 14 years of clinical experience, providing occupational health advisory assessments for non-safety-critical roles. This is a legitimate, recognised, and clinically appropriate model for the work HealthBridge carries out.
The DipOccMed is the primary qualification route for those wishing to practise as occupational physicians, and is particularly relevant for safety-critical medicals, appointed doctor roles, and specialist occupational medicine settings. HealthBridge does not provide any of those services.
For the everyday occupational health needs that most employers and employees face - return to work assessments, sickness absence reviews, fitness for role, reasonable adjustments, and mental health at work, a GP with extensive clinical experience brings a broad, evidence-based perspective that is well suited to the work.
Dr Stanley intends to pursue the DipOccMed as HealthBridge continues to grow. In the meantime, all assessments are conducted within clearly defined scope, backed by MPS professional indemnity, and in line with GMC standards.
A good referral helps us provide the most accurate and useful assessment possible. When completing your referral form please include the employee's job title and a brief description of their role and main duties, the reason for referral and a summary of the health concern or absence history, any relevant workplace context such as adjustments already in place or management concerns, and the specific questions you would like the assessment to address. Up to 8 questions are included within the standard referral scope for a standard assessment.
Referral questions should be focused on functional capacity and workplace impact rather than detailed clinical diagnosis. If you are unsure how to frame your questions, we are happy to help, just get in touch before submitting the form.
How to refer: download the referral form from our website at www.healthbridge.org.uk, complete all relevant sections including the employee consent declaration, and email the completed form to contact@healthbridge.org.uk. We will review the referral, confirm the scope and fee in writing, and agree an appointment time directly with you and the employee.
If you have a complex or sensitive case and would prefer to speak with us before completing the form, you are welcome to make initial contact by email and we will arrange a brief call to discuss the referral before any paperwork is submitted.
We will always confirm scope and pricing with you before any work begins.
Most referrals fall within our standard assessment at £325. A standard case typically involves a straightforward return to work, sickness absence review, fitness for role question, or reasonable adjustments advice where the clinical picture is relatively clear.
A complex case is one involving any of the following: neurodiversity assessment, active or potential disciplinary proceedings, misconduct investigation, or suspension pending a formal process, contested or long term absence exceeding three months, multiple overlapping health conditions requiring extended assessment time, or more than 8 referral questions submitted.
It is worth noting that any workplace case can theoretically become the subject of an employment tribunal claim, regardless of how it starts. HealthBridge reports are prepared to a clinical standard that supports scrutiny in HR and tribunal contexts as advisory evidence. However where a case already has active or anticipated litigation attached to it at the point of referral, we treat this as a complex case to ensure the assessment and report are scoped and documented appropriately.
Where a referral appears complex from the outset we will confirm this with you before invoicing and agree the £450 fee in writing before any work begins. If complexity only becomes apparent during the consultation itself we will contact you immediately before any additional work proceeds. You will never be charged more than agreed without prior written confirmation.
Remote consultations are typically available within 3-5 working days of your referral being received and scoped.
For employer referrals, appointments are typically available within 3-5 working days of the referral being received and scoped. Reports are then delivered within 3-5 working days of the consultation taking place. For employee self-referrals, the same turnaround applies. Once the assessment is complete the report will be prepared and shared with you directly before any release to your employer.
For both referral types, employees have the right under the Access to Medical Reports Act 1988 (AMRA) to review their occupational health report before it is released to the employer.
HealthBridge allows a minimum of 7 days for this review. During this period the employee may request amendments to factual inaccuracies or choose to withhold consent for release entirely. The report will not be disclosed to the employer until this process is complete. Where consent is pending or delayed we will chase promptly on the employer's behalf, however we cannot release confidential information without it.
If you require your report urgently, a priority 48-hour turnaround is available for an additional fee of £100. Please indicate this on your referral form at the point of referral. Priority turnaround refers to the completion of the draft report following consultation. The standard AMRA 7-day employee review window still applies before final release, though in practice many employees respond sooner when timelines are clearly communicated from the outset.
You have clear rights if you are unhappy with the content of your HealthBridge report, and we take those rights seriously.
Under the Access to Medical Reports Act 1988, before any report is released to your employer you have the right to review the full report, request that factual inaccuracies are corrected, add a written statement setting out your disagreement with any part of the report that you feel does not reflect your situation accurately, and withhold consent for the report to be released to your employer entirely.
HealthBridge allows a minimum of 7 days for this review process. We will not release any report to an employer until you have either provided consent or the review period has elapsed without a response, in which case we will contact you again before proceeding.
If you feel the clinical conclusions of the report are inaccurate, we encourage you to raise this directly with Dr Stanley in the first instance. Where a factual error has been made it will be corrected at no charge. Where a clinical disagreement cannot be resolved, your right to append a written statement to the report or withhold consent entirely remains fully intact.
For concerns about the conduct of the assessment itself rather than the report content, our complaints process applies separately. Details are available in our policies section.
Yes. HealthBridge accepts employee self-referrals directly, without the need for employer involvement to initiate the process. There are two pathways available:
Employee self-funded: the employee contacts HealthBridge directly, pays for the assessment themselves, and owns the report entirely. The report will not be shared with the employer without the employee's separate explicit consent. This pathway is fully confidential and gives the employee complete control over how their clinical information is used.
Employee initiated, employer funded: the employee makes first contact with HealthBridge and their employer agrees to cover the cost. The process then follows the standard referral pathway, with consent obtained from the employee before anything is shared. The employee starts the conversation and the employer supports it.
In both cases the process is straightforward, confidential, and fast, with appointments typically available within 3-5 working days. Employees retain the right under the Access to Medical Reports Act 1988 to review their report before it is released to anyone, regardless of which pathway is used.
If you are an employee unsure which pathway is right for your situation, feel free to contact us at contact@healthbridge.org.uk and we will guide you through the options.
Payment terms differ depending on how the referral has been made.
For employer-funded referrals, an invoice is issued 48 hours before the scheduled appointment as confirmation of the booking. Payment is due within 14 calendar days of the invoice date. The completed report is released to the employer once both employee consent has been obtained under the Access to Medical Reports Act 1988 and payment has been received. For established clients in good standing, reports may be released on completion with payment to follow within the standard 14-day term at the Clinical Lead's discretion.
For employee self-funded referrals, full payment is required at the time of booking to confirm and secure the appointment. An invoice is issued via Zoho Books and payment must be received by bank transfer within 48 hours of booking, or the appointment slot is automatically released.
All payments are made by bank transfer to HealthBridge Occupational Health Ltd. Invoices are issued via Zoho Books and include full payment details. There are no subscription fees, retainer charges, or minimum volume commitments.
Cancellation and no-show policy: Where HealthBridge cancels, no charge applies and a full refund is issued to self-funded employees within 5 working days.
For employer-funded referrals, cancellations made more than 48 hours before the appointment incur no charge. Cancellations between 24 and 48 hours before the appointment are charged at 25% of the assessment fee. Cancellations less than 24 hours before the appointment are charged at 50%.
For self-funded employees, cancellations more than 48 hours before the appointment receive a 90% refund with a 10% administration fee retained. Cancellations between 24 and 48 hours receive a 50% refund. No refund is issued for cancellations less than 24 hours before the appointment or for non-attendance.
No-show policy for employer referrals: Where an employee fails to attend their booked appointment without prior notice, the first no-show incurs no charge and one free rebooking is offered. A second no-show by the same employee is charged at 50% of the assessment fee and no further rebooking is offered until the employer confirms in writing the employee's commitment to attend.
For self-funded employees who do not attend without notice, the full fee is forfeited. A single discounted rebooking at 50% of the standard fee is available within 30 days of the original appointment.
For our full payment and cancellation policy please visit our policies section.
No. GP records are not routinely requested as part of a HealthBridge assessment. In most cases, the information gathered during the consultation itself is sufficient to provide a clear and practical report.
If further medical information is considered necessary, particularly in complex cases, this will always be discussed with you first and will only proceed with your explicit written consent. We will never contact your GP or any third party without your knowledge and agreement.
No. HealthBridge operates entirely remotely, conducting assessments via secure video or telephone consultation. This allows us to serve clients nationwide without geographical limitations, keeping the process fast, flexible, and cost-effective.
No. HealthBridge does not provide assessments for safety-critical roles. Safety-critical work such as operating heavy machinery, working at height, commercial driving, or roles involving ionising radiation, requires face-to-face evaluation by a clinician with access to full occupational health resources and specialist equipment.
For safety-critical assessments we recommend engaging an in-person occupational health provider in line with Faculty of Occupational Medicine guidance. We are happy to signpost you to an appropriate service if needed.
Yes. All HealthBridge reports are prepared by a GMC-registered GP in accordance with GMC guidance, current employment law, and the Equality Act 2010. Reports are evidence-based, clearly written, and structured to support confident, informed workplace decision-making.
HealthBridge reports are advisory and clinical in nature, prepared in line with recognised occupational health practice for non-safety-critical roles. They are not formal CPR Part 35 expert witness reports, and where that specific documentation is required for litigation purposes, we will signpost you to an appropriately accredited clinician.
That said, our reports are routinely used by employers to inform and evidence their decision-making, and are prepared to a standard that supports scrutiny in workplace, HR, and tribunal contexts.
Yes. Confidentiality is central to everything HealthBridge does. All consultations are conducted under strict medical confidentiality in accordance with GMC guidance, GDPR, and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Information shared during an assessment is never disclosed to a third party, including the referring employer, without the explicit consent of the employee. Our reports are shared only once the employee has had the opportunity to review the content and provide their agreement for release.
In rare circumstances where there is a serious and immediate risk to the health or safety of the individual or others, we may have a duty to act in the public interest. This is an exceptional circumstance and would always be handled sensitively and in line with GMC guidance.
Your privacy matters. We treat every case with the discretion and respect it deserves.
This is one of the most common concerns employees have about occupational health referrals, and it is entirely understandable. The short answer is that your employer paying for the assessment does not give them automatic access to your medical information.
HealthBridge operates under strict medical confidentiality in line with GMC guidance, GDPR, and the Access to Medical Reports Act 1988.
Your employer commissions the assessment and pays the fee, but the report belongs to you first. Under AMRA 1988 you have the right to review the report before it is released to anyone, request amendments to factual inaccuracies, and withhold consent for release entirely if you choose to do so.
What your employer receives is a workplace focused report addressing the specific referral questions they submitted. It will not contain a detailed account of your medical history, your GP records, or any personal health information you have not consented to disclose.
The clinical consultation itself is confidential. What you share with Dr Stanley during the assessment is treated with the same confidentiality as any medical consultation. The report reflects functional capacity and workplace recommendations, not a transcript of your conversation.
If you have concerns about confidentiality before agreeing to attend an assessment, you are welcome to contact us directly at contact@healthbridge.org.uk and we will talk you through the process before any appointment is booked.
All medical and personal information collected by HealthBridge is stored securely on encrypted, GDPR-compliant systems in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK data protection law. As a GP-led service, HealthBridge processes health data under Article 9(2)(h) of UK GDPR, which permits processing of special category health data for the purposes of occupational medicine and the assessment of working capacity.
Access to your information is strictly limited to the clinician directly involved in your assessment. We do not share, sell, or disclose your data to any third party without your explicit consent, except where we are legally required to do so - for example, in response to a court order or where there is a serious and immediate risk to public safety.
HealthBridge follows the Caldicott Principles for the handling of patient identifiable information. This means your data is used only for the purpose for which it was collected, handled with the minimum necessary access, and protected at every stage of the process.
You have the right to request access to any personal data we hold about you at any time, and the right to request correction of any inaccurate information. For any data related queries or to submit a subject access request please contact us at contact@healthbridge.org.uk
Following your assessment, your records are securely archived in line with BMA guidance for private medical practitioners and recognised best practice for occupational health providers. As a GP-led service, HealthBridge retains records for a minimum of 8 years following your last contact, after which they are permanently and securely deleted unless a specific legal obligation requires otherwise.
The 8 year retention period reflects standard guidance for private GP and occupational health records in the UK. Extended retention periods applicable to certain specialist occupational health settings, such as those involving hazardous substance exposure, do not apply to HealthBridge assessments, which are non-safety-critical in scope.
Your data is never retained longer than necessary and remains protected throughout the retention period under the same GDPR-compliant security measures applied during your assessment.
If you have any questions about how long your records are held, wish to submit a subject access request, or wish to request deletion of your data where legally permissible, please contact us at contact@healthbridge.org.uk
HealthBridge reports are occupational health advisory reports prepared by a GMC-registered GP. They are not formal medico-legal expert witness reports under CPR Part 35 and are not designed or intended to fulfil that specific function.
However, occupational health advisory reports are routinely referenced in employment tribunal proceedings as clinical evidence supporting an employer's decision-making process. A HealthBridge report can provide tribunals with a clear, evidence-based account of an employee's functional capacity, the reasonableness of adjustments considered, and the clinical context behind workplace decisions. This is a legitimate and well-established use of GP-led occupational health advice.
If you require a formal CPR Part 35 compliant expert witness report for litigation purposes, you will need to engage a clinician with specific medico-legal accreditation. We are happy to signpost you to an appropriate service if needed.
In short, our reports support good workplace decisions, and those decisions can absolutely withstand scrutiny in a tribunal setting.