Medical questionnaire - do I have to do it?

[fleacircus]

I've been offered a new job starting in September. I'm not working at the moment, I went back after my second maternity leave but then left for various reasons. But shortly before I left I was signed off for a fortnight with 'depressive illness' - I have had periods where I have been quite low but felt really that this was a misjudgment by the (locum) GP involved, I felt quite manipulated at the time into accepting the certification. With my formal offer letter I've been sent a medical questionnaire to complete - does anyone know if I'm legally obliged to return it? I wasn't planning to make an issue, just 'forget' it unless pushed.

Hi - there have been quite a few threads about this kind of thing - but I am sure they couldn't revoke the job offer on the grounds of any kind of illness -its more I would say so they know any kind of issue - as they are legally obligied to make adjustments if you have issue - which as you say you don't
are they going to check with the GP because you might feel more comfortable saying stress maybe?
and really 2 weeks in terms of depression - and as you say it wasn't in your case - is really nothing - I had 5 months off once - and I know loads of people who have a few weeks off -
I think it might make it a bigger issue to refuse to do it

Was considering implying it was a postnatal condition - don't want to say stress as that suggests work-related, and I do work in quite a stressful job, so think that might flag up more concerns for them. You're right, I should probably just do it. If they did revoke the offer, would there be legal implications, do you (or anybody else) know?

I think there would - although there are better qualified people who post on here

In a similar circumstance, I put a note to explain the circumstance and to reassure the employers that the issue was now resolved.

It turned out that the health needs form was kept so confidential by the HR team that they didn't even pass on the rather important message that I needed various physical adjustments to the work set up before I could begin.

The laws changed in 2010 October under the equality act, at the moment you can only be asked to complete the questionnaire only when an unconditional offer has been made. There are exceptions to this, armed forces, fire service, and roles where a certain level of fitness is required. The standards have to be published though. As an occupational health advisor, I would advise that no professional would deem you medically unsuitable for work due to 2 weeks absence for depressive illness especially if you do not have ongoing treatment. Refusing to complete the questionnaire will make ur employers worry, although I suspect they should not be requesting that you fill it in at all

I just would not put it on. I was on ads for years and never "declared" it. None of their business!