Can employer speak to consultant?

[SteveTheSpiderPlantKiller]

My sisters employer have said they don't believe things she is saying about a chronic condition she has and when she has her telephone appointment with her consultant tomorrow they want to speak to him.

Can they do that?

Sis is sayibg she doesn't mind because she isn't lying but it just seems so unnecessary.

I have never heard of an employer asking this before.

She has polycystic kidney disease and now kidney disease/kidney failure, I think stage 3 or 4 with severe high blood pressure, so at the start of corona she was shielding. They are saying she shouldn't have been.

Did she get a letter from NHS telling her to shield? Those are the people meant to be shielding so can she just send a copy of that?

I'm not sure, i asked can she just give them her letters and they have specifically said they want to speak with her consultant.

The consultant will only speak to them if they consent.

Ideally it would be occupational health having the conversation as a manager won't have the medical knowledge to interpret the info correctly.

If she's provided a shielding letter, there shouldn't be anything to discuss tbh.

Fuck that!
Her employers have no right to her confidential medical info. She just needs to provide them with her shielding letter

I very much doubt a consultant would agree to speak to an employer.

Yes, they'd provide a letter but they would refer the employer to liaise with the patient's GP (but again only with patient's consent as the GP would not be comfortable speaking to an employer either).

I can’t really think of an occasion where a Consultant would do this. They are very busy. It sounds as though your employer wants them to justify their diagnosis to someone with no medical training?

If the employers do not agree with the shielding letter then a medical report/disclosure via the GP (which they can pay for) would be the normal route I think?

How strange. Are her employers medically trained to understand anything about her condition. How were they affected by her shielding and was she on the sheilding list which she would have got a letter about which she could show them. Do you know why this has become an issue. I also doubt the consultant would do this and would suggest they refer to her g.p.

I wouldnt have thought a consultant would be happy to speak to someones employer. You wouldnt bring your boss to an appointment!

Of course she should have been sheilding. A letter from her GP stating this is all thats necessary. The employer has no right to confidential medical information

I think as well its a complete waste of the consultants time. They are there for patients not to pacify employers.

She said she didn't have a letter, her consultant advised her during her phone appointment.

They said they would send a letter but she has yet to receive it.

Her blood preasyre is 171 over 112 so it's pretty bad. I think it was 180 over 120 the other day.

Your employer has no right what so ever to have details of this level. The occupational health at your employer could ask you to attend for an interview. I assume your sister provides sick notes as required, otherwise her details are personal and private.

If she didn’t have a shielding letter then it was her choice to protect herself (I don’t blame her btw), her boss might be right here.

Oh not right as in no way would I let him speak to my consultant.

I think she is planning to let them just to prove she isn't lying and the consultant did advise her to stay home.

She is back in work now and has been for a few weeks.

OP have they said this in writing? Is she in a Union? She should raise a grievance, or a complaint under the Bullying and Harassment policy. This sounds wrong at so many levels. Have they referred her to OH? Have they given her reasonable adjustments? I would advise your sister to not allow this, as it is inappropriate. She can ask her consultant to write a letter to the employer with a confirmation of her health and the need to shield. What is HR doing? She may have a good case of discrimination and needs to take this seriously with her Union.

Well if she was meant to be shielding she should ask consultant to do a shielding letter - he’ll have the template and it’s quick to do. Then that would cover her.

Are they accusing her of going off sick without good reason or being paid when she should have been at work. Thats pretty bad of them. Like pp suggests maybe her Consultant can provide a letter if she is happy to ask.

Lots of people didn't have letters at the start. One of our employees had a phone call from the Dr surgery about his young daughter at the start of it all. It was all a bit of a rush to begin with and errors were made.

They are a small company and her face doesn't fit. There aren't any occupational health and the HR woman (thats not her role but she deals with the HR stuff) is one of the worst for.

It seems they want her out and this is another attempt at it. She hasn't been their over a year yet so has no protection.

I will suggest she asks the consultant to send her a letter. They did say they would but she hasn't received it. A reminder won't hurt.

Maybe the doctor would reply to an email request from them asking for whatever info they think they want which they wont understand anyway. Time to look for another job and talk to ACAS. They sound shit employers.

My consultant is always happy to do emails and letters for my work
They don't ask for much but I needed a couple just to show why I had been off unwell. TBH he would probably speak to my boss but my boss would never ask! I just fling my appointment cards his way every few months and he photocopies them

No way! ACAS? CAB? You can ask for a letter to be sent to employer but I really hope they are abrupt with them

The employer can request a letter from her specialist with information about their recommendation for continuing her employment ie if she would ever be fit to work and if so, linking to occ health about reasonable adjustments. If these adjustments can't be made due to the role then they can force an end to a contract due to health requirements. It is a long process. Pretty rubbish for her.

The employer is completely overstepping the line. They have no right to confidential medical information