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Can my employer copy my maternity notes?

17 replies

destructogirl · 16/07/2010 21:28

Hi
My employer wants proof of my antenatal appointments so I've said I'll bring my notes in. He then said he'd take a copy of them.
I feel a bit funny about this to be honest, is he allowed to ask this?

I've tried googling, and I know he has the right to see proof of my appointments, but I can find no mention of whether he can copy my notes.

I have no appointment cards to show him, the only proof I have is my notes.

Can anyone advise? Or am I just being daft?

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AmazingBouncingFerret · 16/07/2010 21:32

bump!

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Haliborange · 16/07/2010 21:35

Is there a page at the front of your notes with your next appointment on?
If so show him that, if not call the hospital and ask them to send you a letter of your next appointment - tell them your employer is a nosy fecker and I bet they'll understand.
I wouldn't want to hand mine over either.

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MoonUnitAlpha · 16/07/2010 21:35

Are your appointments written on the back of your notes?

Can you contact your midwife and ask her to write you an appointment card or something?

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stripeyknickersspottysocks · 16/07/2010 21:35

No he can't, unless its ok with you. You could have confidential information on there. Ask your midwife if she will provide a signed/stamped letter detailing your a/n appts for him.

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ruddynorah · 16/07/2010 21:38

he probably didn't think twice, just wanted a copy of the dates to save writing them out. mine were on the front page with no personal info.

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destructogirl · 16/07/2010 21:50

My notes are a bit of a mess to be honest.
Instead of a nice timeline of dates on the 'antenatal visits' page, I've got letters and notes and things just stapled in.

I've had 3 scans at 3 different hospitals and a CVS and the proof of these is scattered inbetween my notes, intermingled with results.

ruddynorah, you're right, he's a nice boss I don't think he's being funny with me, just trying to save time.

I'll ask my midwife about writing a letter, do you think she can do this even if most of these appointments weren't with her?

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destructogirl · 23/07/2010 20:11

I took in my notes and showed him but said I didn't want them copied. He ummed and aaahed and said he'd ask HR what to do.

HR have decided they are happy to not have them copied for now but will review this decision if I start to take an 'unreasonable' amount of antenatal appointments.

I will be strict from now on and make sure I get appointment cards/letters

Thanks everyone for your replies (my first mumsnet thread woo hoo!)

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moocowme · 24/07/2010 12:47

how are they medically qualified to know if its an 'unreasonable' amount of antenatal appointments?

every pregnancy is different. in my final two months i had to see the ob man every week and this was a bit of a journey taking about half a day all up. this was high risk at its best.

i would make sure this is all in writing as you have a good case for discrimination/litigation if anything goes wrong because they did not want you to go to those appointments.

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QuantaCosta · 24/07/2010 13:04

Seems to have been a misunderstanding. Most firms need proof of appointments be it antenatal or medical if your taking them in works time ifyswim. You just need an appointment card.

However I do remember one colleague trying to con our male boss into letting her have one morning a week off to go do a maternity yoga class by shoving the word antenatal in front of it so he thought it was something he was obliged to give her time off for. Some people do try it on!

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moaningminniewhingesagain · 24/07/2010 17:03

Aquanatal counts if the midwife has advised it, so the maternity yoga may be within reason

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destructogirl · 25/07/2010 17:52

They do seem to get hung up on the word 'reasonable'.
My next appointment is a fetal echo to check baby's heart. It has to be at a specialist hospital, hard to get to. I don't want to drive cos it's a horrendous journey and if there is bad news I think I will be in no state to drive back. I worked out bus and train times and said I'd need to leave work by 12.
They said that's not 'reasonable' and I can leave at 1.

Luckily boss has offered me a lift to the train station, otherwise I would have to book annual leave.

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Lavitabellissima · 25/07/2010 18:02

QuantaCosta you are allowed to do maternity yoga, antenatal swimming etc if you can get your doctor to recommend it agree it's a bit cheeky though. Also antenatal classes too and parentcraft workshops! It's on the directgov website.

Destructogirl I am having identical twins so am at the hospital every 2 weeks, due to it being classed as high risk. Whenever I'm booked in they give me a print off of the booking, maybe you could ask for one of these.

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CarrieandBilly · 28/07/2010 16:58

Hello Destructogirl.

Immediate answer to your question... NO, they can't ask for your hospital/Maternity notes. They are personal and no one else has the right to see them without your permission. They wouldn't be allowed to look at your doctors notes to "prove you were disabled, really have heart disease, have AIDs, etc" as this would be classed as discrimination. It would therefore be classed as Sexual Discrimination if they were to ask you to provide your maternal notes information. They wouldn't ask a man to see his notes to prove he really had to go for a sexual health check up would they, and want to see the details of those notes!!!

So if they ask you again, tell them you are happy to show them appointment letters but that your notes will remain personal, as this is your right!

Am having major problems with my employers at the moment and am possibly about to bring a sexual discrimination case against them myself. Hope all goes well for you x

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CarrieandBilly · 28/07/2010 16:59

p.s. they are not asking you for a "reasonable" request. This is totally unreasonable :-)

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littleducks · 28/07/2010 17:01

There are antenatal yoga classes here where the teacher is a mw (and works on the maternity ward the rest of the week) and she can/will 'recommend' that you do it and can have the time of work

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AmazingBouncingFerret · 28/07/2010 21:29

I cant believe they are still giving you grief!
maternity rights

If you scroll down it says that you either show an employer a letter from midwife for your first appt and after that an appt card. nowhere does it say they can take a copy of your maternal notes.

Fucking twats.

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destructogirl · 01/08/2010 21:19

Cheers everyone.
Now that it looks like things are going ok with the pregnancy I'm a bit more organised and have appointment letters for my next 2 appointments.

It was all a bit scary after my first scan and I thought I would lose the baby. Appointments were emergency ones for extra scans and CVS, no letters, no cards just rush quickly to hospital.

Am a bit miffed that they would start asking for proof while I still didn't know that the baby was going to be ok.

Sorry you're having trouble CarrieandBilly, hope things go ok.