The most common service occupational health providers deliver typically costs as much as £200 per employee and can often cost much more, according to government research.
The data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) found fitness to work assessments typically cost employers between £51 and £200 per employee.
The cross departmental research paper entitled Understanding Occupational Health Provision 2023-24 found a third of providers charged more than this for these standard requests, with private providers far more likely to charge more than those from the NHS.
More than four in ten (43%) providers charged between £51 and £200 per person to deliver the most common management referrals or assessment of fitness for work.
However, the report also found charging a higher price band of £201 and £400 was also commonplace (37%).
NHS providers were most likely to charge between £51 and £200 – 60% charged at this rate. Meanwhile private providers were most likely to charge between £201 and £400 – 48% charged at this rate.
