who can my doctor share specific information on me with?

PollySouthend

Hi,

I have a letter from my doctor that they have thankfully kept vague and described my condition as a 'medical condition requiring on going analysis and treatment'.

I need to give this letter to my employer and local council.

Can either of these speak to my doctor and obtain information on the condition without my consent?

Thanks

Poppie68

PollySouthend wrote: »

Hi,

I have a letter from my doctor that they have thankfully kept vague and described my condition as a 'medical condition requiring on going analysis and treatment'.

I need to give this letter to my employer and local council.

Can either of these speak to my doctor and obtain information on the condition without my consent?

Thanks

No they can't they would need to send a signed declaration from you giving permission and then they are only allowed to ask specific questions relating to your declared condition.

Hintza

What reason do you need the letter for?

Assuming they have a good reason to be asking for the letter for a specific reason then the vagueness might hold up whatever outcome you expect from the letter (eg benefits).

PollySouthend

Thanks for your help. The letter is for having more than 5 days off in a row due to illness with work.

For the council its just to hopefully get them to wavier a late fee for council tax. Don't mind giving council more information, but would not want them being able to call up my gp. Would only want to give them information that I have seen in advance and approved.

DevCoder

Whilst they cant speak to your doctor, I would think your employer would want to know a bit more if this becomes a frequent thing.

They have a duty of care to you and will not want to be found negligent in that duty.

PollySouthend

krisdorey wrote: »

Whilst they cant speak to your doctor, I would think your employer would want to know a bit more if this becomes a frequent thing.

They have a duty of care to you and will not want to be found negligent in that duty.

Maybe I'm being unreasonable but I find it totally inappropriate to discuss any medical condition to anyone oother than a medical professional. The only thing I would accept work asking for is guidance / advice from a medical. But I'm too close I guess to be objective.

Dizzy_Ditzy

We frequently get calls from employers trying to get info out of us.

They have to have a consent form signed by you. As an extra measure, we generally ring the patient to check that they are happy for us to proceed.

Your gp surgery cannot give them any info. None at all. The line you've been given is adequate enough from a healthcare point of view

PollySouthend

queen_of_cheap wrote: »

We frequently get calls from employers trying to get info out of us.

They have to have a consent form signed by you. As an extra measure, we generally ring the patient to check that they are happy for us to proceed.

Your gp surgery cannot give them any info. None at all. The line you've been given is adequate enough from a healthcare point of view

Thanks very helpful.

Are the council also not able to be given information unless I consent?

RAP_2

No one can discuss your medical records with anyone else unless you have given your written consent. If you are worried that the council or your employer may try to ring your doctor, you could drop a letter off at your GPs saying that you have not given your consent for your records to be discussed with anyone. No GP's surgery should require this, but it may set you mind at ease. It is possible, though unlikely, that the council may decide they need more information as the vagueness of that letter could cover everything from cancer to a common cold.

With regards to you being too close to be objective. I can understand that you don't want to discuss medical issues with anyone other than your medical team, but sometimes you do have to share such information to get what you are entitled to eg Whilst on long term sick leave I had to give details of my cancer in order to get incapacity benefit. It is not nice, but it sometimes has to be done.