Medical/occupational Questionnaire - Advice Needed

bargain_hunter77

Hi, Hope some one can help, I've just been asked to complete a medical questionnaire after I was given an interview for a job at a secondary school. The Questionnaire (has boxes of conditions/illnesses to tick) will be sent back to 'THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH UNIT' at a local address....via 'Capita health solutions' - so it's a company NOT an actual 'Health body'???- do these company's have rights to access my records??


The questions I have are:-

** Will they take my answers in the questionnaire as 'fact' - ie will they check with my GP??

**Will they contact my doctor to confirm/dispute any information I may/may not provide on the form?? - does my doctor have the legal right to pass on any of my medical records to them??

**Do the 'OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH UNIT' have legal rights to access/check my records??

**do they need me to sign something before my GP can send info to them??

**Can they (school) 'force' me to complete the questionnaire?? - Legally??

Thanks for any help

DaisyFlower

They cant legally insist you complete the form, however I would imagine if you refuse to then they will wonder if you have had a lot of time off etc and consider that in there decision to employ you or not.

Lots of companies use outside firms for Occupational Health so its not uncommon. There may be a clause on the form or in your contract where you agree to you own GP being contacted.

I think the issue you have to look at is why you dont want to complete the form.

Andy_L

Company Occupational Health is a private medicine arrangement not an NHS matter so there will not be a "Health Body" just the company who provide the service.

They have no legal right to see your records, however on the form somewhere you will give them permission tocontact your GP

They will cross reference your answers with your records

They cannot force you to complete the form, however if you don't they can, legally, refuse you the job.

bargain_hunter77

Thanks for the reply - I've checked all the form and even though it asks to write down 'family doctor/his address' - I can't see anywhere that if I signed/ticked anywhere that I am 'consenting' for them to contact him......

(I hate the thought of people 'nosying into my records- I'm not hiding anything!!)

dmg24

If they need to contact your doctor, they will contact you and ask you to sign a form to consent to this.

Be aware that if you do not give accurate information, should information to this effect surface later on, it would be grounds for gross misconduct, and therefore summary dismissal.

Also if you did not return the form, then you would not fulfil the requirements for the application process, and therefore they would be likely to withdraw the job offer.

I wouldn't worry about it. No one is trying to catch you out, they just need to check that you are fit to do the job!