Job Offer Medical Questionnaire

PierremontQuaker03

Hi I have signed a job offer, but an employment healthcare questionnaire has been sent out - I have high blood pressure (on medication) - just worried about putting it on - its a desk job that I do.
Am I worried about nothing?
Thanks

elsien

Probably.
You don’t have to disclose any information that you don’t want to although obviously bear in mind that could backfire if you have a health condition that is likely to be relevant to your job. 

Otherwise, it also depends on the wording of the question and what exactly is being asked. There are  so many people on blood pressure medication that unless I was doing a higher risk job of some sort, I would probably not answer that. If it’s along the lines of “any health conditions we need to know about” then no because it’s hard to see why they would need to know? 

flaneurs_lobster

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is hardly seen as a condition these days since it is easily treated with drugs.

As @elsien says, read the questionnaire carefully and only disclose information that is being specifically asked for. Don't answer any "is there anything else that might be ....." questions.

monkey-fingers

PierremontQuaker03 said:

Hi I have signed a job offer, but an employment healthcare questionnaire has been sent out - I have high blood pressure (on medication) - just worried about putting it on - its a desk job that I do.
Am I worried about nothing?
Thanks

Personally, I think you should be honest. But don't give more than you have to.
Say something about "Medication to manage XYZ issue"

Loads of people are on medication to manage all kinds of issues.
They also cannot discriminate on something like this which is why under the Equality Act 2010, they can only ask after you've got the job offer.

The idea is that they can ensure that if you have additional needs that they're catered for. For instance, if you've gone for a job as a warehouse worker and have chronic heart and lung issues, they'll have to make adjustments (that are reasonable).

If you're doing a desk job, there aren't many things that would preclude you.

Here's the Government's guide
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a79b5d440f0b642860da26f/employment-health-questions.pdf

nakie999

You’re worrying more than you need to. High blood pressure on medication is extremely common and it won’t affect a desk-based role. The health questionnaire is there so they can support you if needed, not to judge you or block your job. Just be honest and don’t overthink it.

Grumpy_chap

PierremontQuaker03 said:

Hi I have signed a job offer, but an employment healthcare questionnaire has been sent out - I have high blood pressure (on medication) - just worried about putting it on - its a desk job that I do.
Am I worried about nothing?
Thanks

You need to declare everything truthfully.
Failing to declare only means the potential to come back and bite you.

Tabieth

You need to answer truthfully and there’s really no need to worry about declaring treated hypertension. 

elsien

Tabieth said:

You need to answer truthfully and there’s really no need to worry about declaring treated hypertension. 

Although as  already said, answering truthfully very much depends on the question being asked. it doesn’t mean you automatically have to tell them everything.
I’m a private person. I would declare something if it impacted on the job or if I felt I might need adjustments for it in the future. My employer does not need to know anything else, whether I’m taking medication or not. 

Tabieth

elsien said:

Tabieth said:

You need to answer truthfully and there’s really no need to worry about declaring treated hypertension. 

Although as  already said, answering truthfully very much depends on the question being asked. it doesn’t mean you automatically have to tell them everything.
I’m a private person. I would declare something if it impacted on the job or if I felt I might need adjustments for it in the future. My employer does not need to know anything else, whether I’m taking medication or not. 

Well, one of the questions will almost certainly be “are you on any prescription medications” (it’s a basic, bog-standard question for most medical questionnaires). 

And the questionnaire will be reviewed by an occupational health nurse / doctor who is qualified to assess the answers given and advise if the person is fit for the role they applied for. Not by the line manager who 1) isn’t qualified to interpret the answers and 2) isn’t entitled to know that information. 

PierremontQuaker03

The question asks "are you currently suffering from, or have ever suffered from any of the following? Please tick where appropriate and provide further information below"....
High Blood Pressure is listed 

flaneurs_lobster

PierremontQuaker03 said:

The question asks "are you currently suffering from, or have ever suffered from any of the following? Please tick where appropriate and provide further information below"....
High Blood Pressure is listed 

Fair enough, what further information is needed if you tick that box?