Medical disclousure

[steve208]

Ok well i am hoping to get a new job and the employer has just written to me to say they have asked to see my medical records. So have just phoned the surgery and i will be able to look at the letter before the doctor sends it to the employer.

I am just a little nervous as i hope he says i am ok. The employer has passed me fit in an over the phone question session but hope recent treatment for depression does not put them off employing me. I mean i can work well i just suffer with low confidence sometimes.

[Octavius]

Your emplyer has no right of access to your medical notes. They do have the right to request a report from your GP or to arrange for you to see the company doctor but they cannot discipline you for not giving access to your medical notes. Although any permission must be given in writing by you.

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Jobs_and_Educat ion/Question196546.html

[spunkypumpkn]

Your doctor may well mention your depressive illness in his statement. However, I doubt very much that this will effect your offer of employment, as being treated for depression is almost as common as the common cold these days, ( we live in hard stressful times!) and your employer will almost definately have existing employees who are being treated for depression.

The very fact you are being treated for it is a good thing, as it implies that you a)had the motivation and gumption to do something about it and b) will almost certainly be on the road to recovery.

I'd try not to worry about this, and feel pleased by the very fact that you've impressed your new employer enough for them to have offered you the job.

Bets wishes to you anyway. Jo

[steve208]

thank you.

Well when i submitted my application and various forms since being offered the job priovisionally i did say they could write to my doctor. So i take it my doctor will look over my medical history and respond to a number of questions which the employer may ask in their letter to the doctor.

Also just phoned the employer to check as doctor i wrote down is away so another doctor is going to write the report. Would have been at least a 3 week hold up if had to wait for the specific doctor to come back!

[jno]

well, hang on ... employers aren't necessarily as enlightened as ************* suggests. If I were you, I would keep details of depressive illness out of their hands. I have no idea what the legal situation is here, but if there's some way you can be examined by their company doctor instead, or if you can persuade your GP not to mention it (he has a duty of confidentiality to you), then I'd try it.

[jno]

well, obviously, the row of asterisks represents the name of the second ABer who replied here.

[Octavius]

Phew, for a moment I thought 'Octavius' had become an expletive.

[steve208]

hum ok maybe they are not. I suppose i will have to see what the doctor writes. I mean i am allowed to ask him to tone things down under the 1988 access to medical reports act but i can only ask. He could say he thinks what he writes is true and might not change it - i will just have to hope he is nice about doing it!

[spunkypumpkn]

Employers have a legal responsibility to be 'enlightened' regarding issues of their employees health. The Laws are mostly to protect the employee, and employers are fully aware that they cannot revoke an offer of employment based on a disclosure of an illness which will not affect their ability to perform their job description. This in itself could lead to an employment tribunal (even before employment had actually commenced.)

Also, you might ask your doctor to be discreet, but your doctor would not be able to lie or misrepresent the information on your medical records. They are likely to state the facts without embelishment, as even though you've giving your permission for the medical disclosure.. the information is still confidential and your doctor will be sensitive with regard to this.

Having experience within the domain of law and medicine.... I really dont think that your future employers will be interested in this. They might request that you pay a visit to their occupational health doctor for you to have a chat with them.

[steve208]

thank you for your detailed and clearly well informed answer. I would never ask my doctor to lie but i suppose you could call it a different interpritation of the facts. Anyway I would hope that the fact i have been off medication for almost a year is a good sign to the employer.

Will certianly be interesting to see what my doctor writes about me! Also come to think of it i am nearly 24 and dont think i have ever broken a bone......! (i am going to be careful now that i have said that!)

[spunkypumpkn]

You've been off meds for a year?? !!

What are you worrying about you dafty?? There is no issue here.... only that you're worrying about it. STOP NOW.

The job is yours. Enjoy.

But do take care over next few days... tempting fate like that with your comment re breaks!! tut tut

[steve208]

ok not quite a year but time soon goes by....took last ones at beginning of april...still a while ago. Will prob be nearer to a year by the time i actually start the job as civil service are slow in doing checks. Well they have to do a lot so others can take a while to get back to them.

Anyway cest le vie.

[Morticiah]

Hi Steve208, I hope that this might reassure you ...

I started work for the Civil Service several years ago and experienced a similar situation with medical reports etc..

After my Doctor had returned her report, I started work.
I was asked to report to Occupational Health immediately, and went along feeling rather worried.

When I got there I was sat down with a very caring, kindly Occupational health person who asked how I was coping, and was there anything they could do to help me, did I want counselling etc..

I was completely and utterly bewildered by this kind offer, and thought perhaps they offered this to everyone.

It was only after half hour of 'supportive discussion' that I realised that she'd mis-read the date on the report, and still thought I was suffering from Post - Natal Depression - 15 years down the line!!

The Civil Service are generally incredibly supportive of their Staff ... so be honest with them and if they offer you support via Occupational Health, don't feel defensive! go for it. They were brilliant after I broke my Leg - helped me out loads!

Good luck,

Mort

[steve208]

hey that great!!

How long did it take fir them to check you out from the initial job offer to a firm offer?

Also i know i might be getting ahead of myself but how long did you say you have been in your job and is the promotion or pay progression prospects good?!

thanks

[Morticiah]

Hi Steve, In my job I had to have an Enhanced CRB disclosure, but fortunately I already had a current one, so I was able to start fairly quickly. My references came back really quickly, and the dept were in a hurry for me to start so I think it took about 8 weeks in all - possibly a bit longer.

I think that if they are doing full CRB checks it can take longer - nothing to do with the Civil Service, the delay is because the Criminal Records people take so long to run their checks.

My job is an unusal one (for the Civil Service) so there isn't any chance of promotion cos I'm top of the Heap (lols albeit a small Heap!) but I do get yearly payrises, good pension scheme and Holiday etc. (too much holiday in my opinion!).

I have to say I wouldn't choose to be a Civil Servant because of my personal feelings about useless bureaucracy, but the funding for my job comes via the Civil Service so I have no choice.

Good luck with everything! I do hope it works out for you!

Mort