Colleague informing my manager of a medical issue

[Sparklybutold]

I work frontline with members of the public, around 95% of it wfh. I have always suffered with a myriad of neurological and musculoskeletal problems throughout my life. Recently I have been referred to neurology, with MS being one of many diagnoses. I informed my manager during supervision as I have been open about my health issues since I started. My job suits my needs and limitations well. I am very proactive in ensuring I access all the support I can. During a conversation with a colleague I told her about this referral. She didn't ask many questions, just 'that she was familiar with MS as she had family/friends diagnosed'. I told her that I had already informed our manager. This colleague informed me today by email that she has let my manager know as she is 'duty bound' to ensure my safety. This has really angered me.

I've already told our manager - I told her this. So she has effectively told them again?

She didn't actually enquire about my own symptoms, supposedly going on her own understanding of MS. The tone of the email feels extremely infantilising and judgemental.

Confidentiality is central to our work. In instances that requires us to break this confidentiality, we let the person know. She told me after.

I have supervision on Friday with my manager. How do I broach this?

I hate people like this!!

Having discussed it further OP I am satisfied that OP is receiving any necessary support and adjustments to carry out her role.

That's none of the colleague's business. And again implies she was right to stick her beak in.

I agree with you that both manager's response and colleague's feel disablist. The suggestion that 'MS is very serious' is ridiculous given the huge variety in symptoms and trajectories people experience. And you don't even have a diagnosis! I'd speak to HR and ask for everyone in your team/area to be given disability awareness training including understanding how to speak sensitively to others. The idea that you are a safeguarding hazard because you MIGHT have MS is outrageous. Especially if you've already told your manager, it makes it seem like the person involved is just trying to score brownie points.

Also if a member of my team did this I would say thank you for coming to me with this given I understand you had positive intentions, however X's medical situation is private and between she and I to deal with. If such a situation were to arise in future please encourage the person to go to their manager themselves rather than reporting yourself, unless you feel the person or those they are dealing with are in immediate danger.

I have written it down in my ‘work journal’ which was good for me actually as I was able to determine how I would like to handle it moving forward. I have contacted HR to talk about it and what I think should happen in terms of policy and training.