Employer requesting "access to medical reports"

chipmunk

My OH has been off work sick with stress and low mood. His initial sick note was for 14 days, last Thursday his GP gave him a further one for 10 days and then proposes to give him a 'fit note' but with reduced working hours and/or workload (to be decided at his next appointment). His employer was told this when sending his latest sick note.

His employer has written today thanking him for his 'fit note' (it wasn't, it was a sick note) and asking him to sign a consent form allowing them to contact his GP to request a report on his state of health. The letter said it was also enclosing a statement of his rights under the Order (access to personal files and medical reports) but there wasn't one.

He's assuming this is just a standard requirement on the employer's behalf and he has no problems with them contacting his GP and will sign the consent form but he's curious as to why they are asking for it. He's only been off sick a couple of times in the last 16-odd years following some minor surgery and then not for very long so he's not a serial sickie-thrower

Can anyone give any info. on why they might be requesting this ?

Funky_Bold_Ribena

a - it IS a fit note - they changed the name several years ago
b - because he might be off for more than a month; probably standard practice these days.

Southend1

One way to look at this is that it is in your OH's interest that the employer sees the medical report to ensure that any reduced duties or adjusted work given on his return won't aggravate his condition or cause any complications.

ohreally

Without further information, i wouldn't give consent for this. This isn't what the GP is for in this instance.

Why can't the employer engage the services of an occupational health provider, they can then contact the GP (with consent) if its considered necessary.

chipmunk

Funky_Bold_Ribena wrote: »

a - it IS a fit note - they changed the name several years ago
b - because he might be off for more than a month; probably standard practice these days.

Thanks, you can see we don't know much about sick notes :rotfl:

chipmunk

ohreally wrote: »

Without further information, i wouldn't give consent for this. This isn't what the GP is for in this instance.

Why can't the employer engage the services of an occupational health provider, they can then contact the GP (with consent) if its considered necessary.

Do you think it's OK to ask them why they want it or does that sound a bit odd ? He's got no problems with them contacting his GP, in fact the GP offered to give him a sick note earlier in the year when he first went to see him about this but hubby said no.

ohreally

chipmunk wrote: »

Do you think it's OK to ask them why they want it

Absolutely. You also need to restrict what information they get access to. Ask them to show you the letter they intend sending to the GP and ask the GP to copy you in on his report for approval, before its sent out.

You need to be clear on why they want info from the GP and what they intend to do with it.

Also, you need to be content on the provision of confidentiality from the employers end, as this is sensitive information they are requesting.

Given the above, i'd be asking the employer to use an occupational health provider in this instance.

chipmunk

ohreally wrote: »

Absolutely. You also need to restrict what information they get access to. Ask them to show you the letter they intend sending to the GP and ask the GP to copy you in on his report for approval, before its sent out.

You need to be clear on why they want info from the GP and what they intend to do with it.

Also, you need to be content on the provision of confidentiality from the employers end, as this is sensitive information they are requesting.

Given the above, i'd be asking the employer to use an occupational health provider in this instance.

Thanks for that. I'm a bit worried now though ... wondering what they're up to

ohreally

chipmunk wrote: »

I'm a bit worried now though ... wondering what they're up to

Don't worry, but you should be clear on what happens and why.

bluenoseam

You can also request to see any report prior to it being sent to the employer, so if you disagree with something contained within you can speak to your GP about it.

I think a few people seem to be overly suspicious of employers, perhaps it could be that the employer would like some professional guidance on what may & may not be suitable for OP's OH when he returns to work. It's not always the case that the company will use it as a stick against you for pete's sake!

Yorkie1

The report will almost certainly have been asked for because of the nature of the illness. Employers are really careful about stress-related conditions these days.

I suspect that the doctor may be asked to provide a report akin to an occupational health report - rather than simply copying your OH's medical records wholescale to the employer.