Can anyone answer me a question about Occupational Health please?

[lucysmam]

I'm struggling to find an answer online to this one.

...

Work are refusing my request to speak to OH in person so I can see what's being written about me (there are errors in my medical notes so I want to see what's being written).

So...

Are they correct that they "can't" make any adjustments if I don't tell a complete stranger the ins and outs of my treatment over the phone, for them to then pass on to HR (another person I don't know)? Or is it just that they won't make adjustments if I don't?

And, if I don't have to - can you please tell me how to tell them that they still do need to make relevant adjustments, if, and when I do need them?

(I have breast cancer, diagnosed early last year).

Hi
Not an OT, but this link should explain your rights re reasonable adjustments at work:
https://www.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments-for-disabled-workers
Hope everything works out for you.

Where I work you have the right to see the report before it is given to the occupational health referrer (some places that is HR, other places have a dedicated department) so you can rectify any errors etc..... this should be standard for all external OH providers.

If I'm being honest, you get out what you put in at the appointments. The more you tell them, the more detailed they can be in their recommendations for reasonable adjustments. You are automatically covered under the equality act due to your cancer so your company do have a legal responsibility for reasonable adjustments anyway.

Personally and I know this is hard, be as honest as you can with the OH practitioner, it will honestly help you.

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis.

The OH providers we use offer the employee an option to see the report before it's sent to the employer.

I think it would be reasonable for your employer to seek advice on what reasonable adjustments you need. It will be a qualified doctor so no difference to any other you will have met in the course of your treatment.

I think it would be in your interests to meet with OH.

Thank you, I didn't realise I'd see the report before it was sent further along. I just don't want to say one thing & it be written totally wrongly or come across differently to how I intend.

It doesn't help that when the OH nurse did call me, they scheduled for 20 mins at the end of my working day, then told me it'd take at least 45 mins to get through everything. That was a very brief call & quick chat about what questions she had, as I had an appointment & our HR/admin person who agreed it was aware I was dashing out the door to be on the bus to get there in time.

I'm also not sure just how much experience of say my diagnosis of bc, and then say, someone else's diagnosis of heart failure, and another with another condition, one person making these calls & making recommendations will have.

It seems a bit like plonking me (an EY TA) in y11 & asking me to teach GCSE Science content - no way I could do that so how can one person make decisions for me, and the next person, and the next, and the next...when everyone has a different diagnosis? (I also don't think I want someone else making decisions for me right now - with me, then maybe).

I'm not trying to be difficult, I just don't get the "optional OH" but it's not actually optional to tell yet another person about my bowel movements/meds/whether I sleep with one or seven pillows/if I had a sensible breakfast or grabbed the chocolate ceral that morning (yes, I'm taking the piss a bit but when I asked what sort of questions were to be asked, she did mention toilet habits). & tbh, I don't need them to change anything atm - probably will at some point, but I'm ok as I am right now 🤷‍♀️

I'm frustrating myself about it so no real need to reply. I'll get my head out of my arse & get on with it so long as it's with and not for me.

There is information here about what occupational health do and how they can help you:

https://www.acas.org.uk/using-occupational-health-at-work