Can my GP overrule O.H?

ohreally

They have different remits and perspective.

Was the visit to OH the result of a management referral? If so, as stated previously, the function is to provide an opinion to the referring manager.
The relationship between GP and patient (you) is of a different nature.

Most managers will pretty much, blindly follow OH advice, if they don't and the situation goes belly-up, they could find themselves in the firing line with some explaining to do.

CynicalScotsman

Sorry to hijack this but what if it was a consultant surgeon rather than a GP?

Not sure, but they would both be the same answer tbh as a consultant surgeon is the same grade as a consultant GP

SarEl

Emmzi wrote: »

as in, "I think your GP is wrong?"

My reports are woollier than that And err on the side of professional respect.

Yes, but to be fair, you are in a somewhat nicer environment! When a GP signs someone with degenerative spinal conditions back to work in a warehouse where they do heavy lifting because the person isn't getting sick pay and has told them it "isn't so bad", the employers OH do tend to get antsy! It's "the new wheeze" amongst certain "clever" GP's - if the employer suspends on medical grounds the person is entitled to full pay, for up to 26 weeks of medical suspension! I have heard union officers openly talking about which doctors will issue the right "fit note".

ohreally

SarEl wrote: »

I have heard union officers openly talking about which doctors will issue the right "fit note".

It doesn't make them bad people.

Emmzi

SarEl wrote: »

Yes, but to be fair, you are in a somewhat nicer environment!

Um, no I am not. It's a long time since I was in financial services.

And in fairness a lot of it comes down to asking OH the right questions to begin with. And being prepared to pay for follow up visits if they need to request extra data. There are various levels of service.

nac

Thanks to everyone. I've been off with work related stress due to harassment which employers have stuck their heads in the sand :mad: It really is just a hypothetical question but, if in say 1month, I am forced back to work due to sick pay finishing , and my GP feels I should return and I feel I HAVE TO due to finances, would my employers allow me to as OH says it is likely to be @ 3months?? I appreciate your advice :beer:

Emmzi

if OH and your GP are talking to each other they may come to consensus. Ask for a reassessment from OH.

But do you actually want to go back if the issues are not addressed? Have you raised a grievance, are you in a union, etc etc

nac

VfM4meplse wrote: »

OH thinks 3 months off is necessary for stress?! Ridiculous but classic :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:.

Go back to work.

How sad you are, if you've nothing constructive/helpful to say, do everyone a favour and say nothing

Jarndyce

Occ Health are ultimately there to advise the employer and protect their interests.
So if they don't think you're ready to return then they could overrule you and your GP. Hypothetically you could, for example, want to go back to ensure you don't lose money and have convinced your GP of the same but actually be completely unready to return and depnding on the nature of your work you could be putting the employer's business at risk. So Occ Health will ultimately prevail, but dialogue and a consensus are always advisable.

Uncertain

Jarndyce wrote: »

Occ Health are ultimately there to advise the employer and protect their interests.

Well, technically any doctor's first (and legal) duty is to act in the best interest of the patient - not whoever is paying him. In fact he would get into serious trouble with the GMC if it could be proved that he had done otherwise.

An OH physician's role is to advise the employer how, in his professional opinion, the patient's work would be affected by their health. He does not "overrule" the GP. It should also be noted that, unless there has been an agreed dialogue between OH and the GP the OH doctor will not normally have anything like as much information on which to base his opinion.

If there is a real conflict of opinion the the OP should ask for a third opinion and the company would be foolish to refuse.