UNIVERSITY OF
NEWCASTLE
ON-SITE OCCUPATIONAL
PHYSIOTHERAPY SERVICES
Cost Benefit Analysis on a sample of
University of Newcastle employees
Cases: 16 out of 40 employees (40%)
of
University of Newcastle
referral for
On Site Occupational Physiotherapy
Period:
01/04/07 - 30/09/07
Regional Office (North East):
Connect Physical Health Centres Ltd
36 Apex Business Village
Annitsford
Northumberland
NE23 7BF
www.connectphc.co.uk
Connect Physical Health Centres - working towards accreditation in 2007
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ANALYSIS I
ONSITE OCCUPATIONAL PHYSIOTHERAPY SERVICE REVIEW
01/04/07 - 30/09/07 (INCLUSIVE)
SAMPLE CASE HISTORIES WHERE - ABSENCE HAS BEEN REDUCED
In this analysis there are 7 employees who would have had an extended period of
absence, had they not been referred to the ‘On Site’ Occupational Physiotherapy Service.
CASE I
Female employee (Castle Leazes Halls)
Work gradual injury. Off sick 16 weeks at time of physio assessment. Received
treatment and returned to work 7 weeks later on restricted duties for 4 weeks
then on full duties.
Without physio intervention would have been off work a further 8 weeks.
If seen immediately by physio, could have saved a further 12 weeks absence.
Therefore 8 weeks absence saved (with a potential for a further 12 weeks
saved if employee had been referred immediately)
CASE II
Female employee (Careers Service)
Injury at home. Off sick 1 week at time of physio assessment. Received
treatment and returned to work 4 weeks later on reduced hours for 2 weeks
then on full duties.
Without physio intervention would have been off work a further 6 weeks.
Individual was seen immediately by physio, therefore no further absence could
have been saved.
Therefore 6 weeks absence saved.
CASE III
Female employee (SDU – Learning Resource Centre)
Unsure of nature of injury. Off sick 1 week at time of physio assessment and
had just returned to work on full duties. However, symptoms were deteriorating.
Without physio intervention would have been off work a further 4 weeks.
If seen immediately by physio, could have saved a further 1 weeks absence.
Therefore 4 weeks absence saved (with a potential for a further 1 weeks
saved if employee had been referred immediately)
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CASE IV
Female employee (Henderson Halls)
Injury at home. Off sick 6 weeks and had just returned to work at time of
physio assessment.
If seen immediately by physio, could have saved a further 4 weeks absence.
Therefore 0 weeks absence saved (with a potential for a further 4 weeks
saved if employee had been referred immediately)
CASE V
Female employee (Medical School)
Works accident (reported). Off sick 1 day at time of physio assessment and
had just returned to work . However, symptoms were deteriorating.
Without physio intervention would have been off work a further 3 weeks.
If seen immediately by physio, could have saved a further 1 day absence.
Therefore 3 weeks absence saved (with a potential for a further 1 day saved
if employee had been referred immediately)
CASE VI
Female employee (CBC)
Sports injury. Off sick 6 weeks at time of physio assessment. Received
treatment and returned to work 3 weeks later on restricted duties for 2 weeks
then on full duties.
Without physio intervention would have been off work a further 6 weeks.
If seen immediately by physio, could have saved a further 2 weeks absence.
Therefore 6 weeks absence saved (with a potential for a further 2 weeks
saved if employee had been referred immediately)
CASE VII
Female employee (ESS)
Unsure of nature of injury. Off sick 1 day and had just returned to work at time
of physio assessment. However, symptoms were deteriorating.
Without physio intervention would have been off work a further 6 weeks.
If seen immediately by physio, could have saved the 1 days absence.
Therefore 6 weeks absence saved (with a potential for a further 1 day saved
if employee had been referred immediately)
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Table for calculating cost of time lost to The Business
1
minute
40p
35p
30p
25p
20p
15p
10p
7p
5p
4p
Annual
Salary
£40,000
£35,000
£30,000
£25,000
£20,000
£15,000
£10,000
£7,000
£5,000
£4,000
5
minutes
£2.00
£1.75
£1.50
£1.25
£1.00
75p
50p
35p
25p
20p
Time Lost
10
30
minutes
minutes
£4.00
£12.00
£3.50
£10.50
£3.00
£9.00
£2.50
£7.50
£2.00
£6.00
£1.50
£4.50
£1.00
£3.00
70p
£2.20
50p
£1.50
40p
£1.20
1 hour
1 day
1 week
£24.00
£21.00
£18.00
£15.00
£12.00
£9.00
£6.00
£4.40
£3.00
£2.40
£168.00
£147.00
£126.00
£105.00
£84.00
£63.00
£42.00
£30.80
£21.00
£16.80
£840.00
£735.00
£630.00
£525.00
£420.00
£315.00
£210.00
£154.00
£105.00
£84.00
(Auditory and measuring the cost of Absence – Occupational Health Magazine – Nov 1997)
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF SAMPLE PHYSIO CASES
(6 month period: 01/04/07 – 30/09/07 (inclusive))
SAMPLE CASES OF ABSENCE REDUCED
IF SEEN FROM
WEEK 1 OF
ABSENCE
TOTAL
LENGTH OF
ABSENCE
LIKELY ADDITIONAL
ABSENCE IF HAD
NOT BEEN SEEN BY
PHYSIO
COST
SAVING
(due to on site
physio)
£
9,240.00
23 weeks
8 weeks
4,620
1 week
577.50
5 weeks
6 weeks
3,465
CASE III
1 week
577.50
1 week
4 weeks
2,310
CASE IV
6 weeks
3,465.00
6 weeks
-
-
CASE V
1 day
1 day
3 weeks
1,732.50
CASE VI
6 weeks
9 weeks
6 weeks
3,465
CASE VII
1 day
115.50
1 day
6 weeks
3,465
12 weeks
less absence
0 weeks less
absence
1 weeks less
absence
4 weeks less
absence
1 days less
absence
2 weeks less
absence
1 days less
absence
TOTAL
30 weeks
2 days
£17,556
44 weeks
2 days
33 weeks
£19,057.50
19 weeks
2 days
CASE
ABSENCE AT
TIME OF
ASSESSMENT
BY PHYSIO
CASE I
16 weeks
CASE II
COST OF
ABSENCE
(Up to the time
of assessment)
£
115.50
3,465.00
Based on average FT salary of 27,500 k per annum (ie. £115.50 per day / £577.50 per week)
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EXTRA
SAVING
(if seen from
week 1 of
absence)
£
6,930
577.50
2,310
115.50
1155
115.50
£11,203.50
ANALYSIS II
ONSITE OCCUPATIONAL PHYSIOTHERAPY SERVICE REVIEW
01/04/07 – 30/09/07 (INCLUSIVE)
SAMPLE CASE HISTORIES WHERE – ABSENCE PREVENTED
In this analysis there are 9 employees who the physiotherapist is confident would have
gone on the sick had they not been seen by the physiotherapist whilst at work with a
problem.
CASE I
Female employee (HR)
Unsure of nature of injury. Saw physio whilst at work.
Completed a course of treatment. (7 treatments)
If not seen physio when she did, the problem was worsening and could have had
up to
2 weeks absence.
Therefore 2 weeks absence prevented.
CASE II
Female employee (CEGS)
Unsure of nature of injury. Saw physio whilst at work.
Completed a course of treatment. (1 treatment)
If not seen physio when she did, the problem was worsening and could have had
up to
4 weeks absence.
Therefore 4 weeks absence prevented.
CASE III
Female employee (Executive Office)
Unsure of nature of injury. Saw physio whilst at work.
Completed a course of treatment. (7 treatments)
If not seen physio when she did, the problem was worsening and could have had
up to
3 weeks absence.
Therefore 3 weeks absence prevented.
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CASE IV
Female employee (School of Biology)
Unsure of nature of injury. Saw physio whilst at work.
Completed a course of treatment. (7 treatments)
If not seen physio when she did, the problem was worsening and could have had
up to
4 weeks absence.
Therefore 4 weeks absence prevented.
CASE V
Female employee (Business School)
Work gradual injury. Saw physio whilst at work.
Completed an assessment and workstation assessment.
If not seen physio when she did, it is likely that the problem would have
worsened and could have had up to 2 weeks absence.
Therefore 2 weeks absence prevented.
CASE VI
Male employee (Business School)
Unsure of nature of injury. Saw physio whilst at work.
Completed an assessment and workstation assessment..
If not seen physio when he did, it is likely that the problem would have worsened
and could have had up to 2 weeks absence.
Therefore 2 weeks absence prevented.
CASE VII
Male employee (Civil Engineer)
Unsure of nature of injury. Saw physio whilst at work.
Completed a course of treatment. (3 treatments & workstation assessment)
If not seen physio when he did, the problem was worsening could have had up
to
2 weeks absence.
Therefore 2 weeks absence prevented.
CASE VIII
Female employee (Finance)
Work gradual injury. Saw physio whilst at work.
Completed a course of treatment. (8 treatments & workstation assessment)
If not seen physio when she did, the problem was worsening and could have had
up to
3 weeks absence.
Therefore 3 weeks absence prevented.
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CASE IX
Male employee (Finance)
Unsure of nature of injury. Saw physio whilst at work.
Completed a course of treatment. (7 treatments)
If not seen physio when he did, it is likely that the problem would have worsened
and could have had up to 2 weeks absence.
Therefore 2 weeks absence prevented.
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COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF SAMPLE PHYSIO CASES
(6 month period: 01/04/07 – 30/09/07 (INCLUSIVE))
SAMPLE CASES OF ABSENCE PREVENTED
Sample cases of 9 employees seen by the on-site physiotherapist where it was
felt that ‘early reporting’ and immediate Assessment/Treatment resulted in
absence being prevented.
Likely length of absence without
immediate access to ‘on-site’
physiotherapy
Case
Case
Case
Case
Case
Case
Case
Case
Case
I:
II:
III:
IV:
V:
VI:
VII:
VIII:
IX:
TOTAL =
2
4
3
4
2
2
2
3
2
Cost saving @ £577.50 per week
£
weeks
weeks
weeks
weeks
weeks
weeks
weeks
weeks
weeks
24 weeks
1,155
2,310
1,732.50
2,310
1,155
1,155
1,155
1,732.50
1,155
TOTAL =
£13,860.00
Based on average FT salary of 27,500 k p.a.
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COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF SAMPLE PHYSIO CASES
(6 month period: 01/04/07 – 30/09/07 (INCLUSIVE))
Number of employees commencing physiotherapy = 40
Cost benefit analysis based on 16 employees
SUMMARY
Total cost of service (01/04/07 – 30/09/07): £4,475 (for 40 employees)
Savings made through reduced absence:
£19,057.50 (for 7 employees)
Savings made through absence prevention: £13,860 (for 9 employees)
Therefore by having On Site Occupational Physiotherapy Services at
University of Newcastle the total savings made through absence
reduction/prevention for 16 employees = £32,917.50
Had the service been utilised more efficiently, through immediate
referral to the On Site Physiotherapy Service, a further £11,203.50
could have been saved.
Please note: This Analysis does not take into consideration the hidden ‘non tangible’
benefits of the service for those in the sample, or the additional benefits for those
employees who commenced physiotherapy and were not included in the sample.
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