Medical opinion/Diagnosis etc at work.

mellman01
mellman01 Member Posts: 5,306
Medical opinion/Diagnosis at work.


Hi just a quick post, who is allowed legally to give a medical opinion on an long term ill employee to their employers/line management and HR department?, I ask as I have OA both knee caps and it’s bad enough I can’t do my old job now.
The thing is I keep going to see the company employed Doctor he’s been OK and has covered me under the DDA or whatever it’s now called.
But what I would really like to know is this, is he the correct chap to make all medical rulings judgements and recommendations to my HR and line management seeming he’s also employed by the very people he’s reporting to?, should this kind of thing be done by an outside un biased third party or is he legally allowed to be in this kind of role?.

Comments

  • mellman01
    mellman01 Member Posts: 5,306
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I'll take the silence as a yes then?. :roll:
  • rugbygirl
    rugbygirl Member Posts: 691
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I am sure that the best person to give recommendations would be your own GP/consultant along with your own input. After all you are the only one who really knows how you are affected by this and how much you could or couldnt do??

    It isnt a problem with the employed doctor as he should be acting in your best interest regardless of who he is employed by but it doesnt do any harm to be safe. Hope that helps :)
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  • mellman01
    mellman01 Member Posts: 5,306
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    The ironic thing is the ocupational nurse here reports to the head of HR as his line manager!.
  • Pherstun
    Pherstun Member Posts: 96
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Excellent post by delboy.

    If your company has occ health, even one doctor, it shows they're a good company that cares about its staff. In whatever form, whether it be a big team or one doctor, they should not be influenced by what the employer wants. They should be completely unbiased and describe the true nature of your condition by asking the appropriate questions and doing appropriate tests, same as your GP or specialist.

    If you have occ health on site it will likely be part of your contract that you need to co-operate with them, it's also in your best interests. Occ health / the employer should also consult with your GP / specialist to work out the best way to assist you. This includes them having to pay for specialist reports if it's appropriate.

    Having said that, we all know from seeing our GP / specialist that we can get conflicting information and stuff that just doesn't seem to make sense, so don't hesitate in questioning an occ health person the same as you would any other medical professional.

    Occ health conversations with you should be completely confidential and they will only report back to the employer the information that is relevant while suggesting measures and changes that can be implemented to keep you working, whether that be adjustments to your current job or a total change of what you do. Only as a last resort when everything else has failed should they look at finishing you on ill health.

    I would strongly suggest also to everyone to join a union if you're not already in one, they have all the above knowledge and will make sure you're treated fairly. Even if your employer doesn't recognise a trade union you can join various ones as an individual and it's in the employer's best interests to let one consult with you so that you don't end up taking them for unfair dismissal.

    Debbie
  • woodbon
    woodbon Member Posts: 4,969
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I have been retired sick with the opinion from the occy health doc that I will not be able to undertake any employment for as long as I'm 65. This allowed the Council to give me my pension at the rate it would have been had I continued to work.

    Occy Health were very helpful and gave me in all, nearly 2 years. They had to ask me to sign to approach my GP for a report, I could have said no, but this would not have been in my interest. I found them helpful and no information was given without permission from me. I think that all doctors have to work under patient confidentiallity, whoever employs them. Sue
  • Gillian1961
    Gillian1961 Member Posts: 3
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I have been in and out of my Occy Health dept for years! Honestly, I have always found them very helpful and empathic. I think most people find them independent and objective. I am in the NHS so I guess regulations differ. One of my problems is that Occ Health make recommendations and the employers is not obliged to take their advice. I am under DDA (as declared by Occ Health doc) but I am in the bracket of looking OK to my boss, so therefore I must be OK!
    Working on tramadol is an experience.
  • janie68
    janie68 Member Posts: 1,186
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I am pleased for Gillian who has had a positive experience with NHS Occy health. This must be a good trust to work for. I am also in the NHS and our occy health are not so good, for a trust that has 4000 employees, and only 3 nurses and no doctor at all. I am a complex case yes but I should not feel like a burden and sometimes I have felt they have not been objective, afterall they do report to..... Oh yes my line manager as well.

    Sorry Im not sure what im talking about now, as im wittering on.

    When they needed to get a report from my Consultant, they actually asked me if I could ask him if he would do it for free! Umm isnt that their job??

    So maybe cost plays a part in getting an impartial opinion,

    Janie
  • mellman01
    mellman01 Member Posts: 5,306
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I have been in and out of my Occy Health dept for years! Honestly, I have always found them very helpful and empathic. I think most people find them independent and objective. I am in the NHS so I guess regulations differ. One of my problems is that Occ Health make recommendations and the employers is not obliged to take their advice. I am under DDA (as declared by Occ Health doc) but I am in the bracket of looking OK to my boss, so therefore I must be OK!
    Working on tramadol is an experience.


    Same for me Gillian I'm cover under the DDA as it was but my line manager doesn't give two hoots, also the place is closing in a year yet he chaces me about and gets really moody, HR have also written to me saying there is no work for me and under the pension rules I am bang on for retirment uner ill health but company Doctor wont give the nod, I am on a stage 2 warning and going to 3 soon so now my Gp has signed me off for a moth, I guess all hell will break loose once I go back but now my view is "**** it", I have bent over backwards to keep them up to speed on all my hospital visits etc and the more I do the more I get kicked in the teeth yet other wander about take the rise and get better treatment than I, what is the bloody point, you do right be honest work hard get s%$t on from a grat height, you pi%$ it up the wall malinger stay on the dole scam and duck and dive and they love you, I mean how does that work?.