Informed employer of pregnancy - now they want access to medical records

[Cheeruploveitmightneverhappen]

Can they demand this?

I informed my employers last week that I was 24 weeks pregnant.
A few days later an occupational health questionnaire arrived with no explanation. At the end is a statement giving consent to their access to my medical records.

I absolutely do not want this, as I can see no justification for it. I am not ill,have had no time off at all for pregnancy related issues and can prove pregnancy with my MAT B1 form.

Can anyone advise me on this please?

The occupational health questionnaire will have been about fulfilling you employers legal obligation to carry out a risk assessment for pregnant employees.
You do not have to give access to medical records. As far as I'm aware they have no right to see your records.

Ah ok, that sounds sensible.

It's just that the "I confirm that this information is accurate" is then followed up with "I give consent to XXXXX accessing my medical records", so I can't sign one without the other iyswim?

Occupational Health dept is one person who is a bit of a bully so that might be a no-go....

I'd raise it with whoever the appropriate person is - very badly worded and entirely inappropriate.

If it was me, I'd strike out that whole line, and write in "I confirm this information is accurate."

Technically isn't a Mat1B form your medical records also. Why don't you want them to see your records, is there anything in there that could change the RA that they do for you?

Thanks for all the useful advice, you've been really helpful bringinghomethebacon, edam & Teamlemon. I have amended the form as suggested and will be attaching a memo in case my amendment goes unnoticed.

Grevling - bringinghomethebacon has answered your question perfectly- why would I consent to something so intrusive happening? If there were anything on my record that would affect a risk assessment then why would I conceal it in the first place? I find your 'tone' rather rude, did you mean it to come across that way?

Blimey cheerup What's eating you?
Grevling didn't post anything bad or rude. I thought it was a straightforward question!

A standard 'access to medical records' bit is obviously usual on their OH forms, so it's well-intentioned but clumsy in that the form hasn't been amended for employees whose only 'medical condition' is pregnancy.

Fine not to sign that and you could even suggest in a nice way that the standard form doesn't quite work for pregnant women.

I do agree with upahill, perhaps you are being a bit oversensitive cheerup? I genuinely can't see anything like a rude tone in Grevling's post tbh.

There is no way they can access your records without your consent.What they can do is ask you to supply a report from your GP/Consultant which you are entitled to see before it is sent. You can also amend it. I think you have 21 days to see it .Uph without being rude but is your condition becoming obvious ?

Fair do's, was undoubtedly being oversensitive. Sorry Grevling.

Yup, condition very obvious now as quite slim with big bump! Anyway as I said they have been informed (24 weeks is the legal time limit to announce pregnancy to employers).