Occupational health doctor disagreeing re anxiety/depression

[4myfriend]

N/C for this post, I'm posting on my friend's behalf as she is too depressed to do it herself - My friend has been signed off for depression and anxiety by the GP for 3 weeks, however her employer has asked her to attend a review with an occupational health doctor to assess whether she is able to work/attend meetings. The Occupational health doctor has previously been dismissive of her depression and anxiety and has stated that in his opinion this is not a real illness and she merely has a few symptoms that don't necessarily mean depression.

She is worried that the occupational health doctor will say that she is fit for work or fit to attend certain stressful meetings. How should she proceed with this matter? Any advice appreciated please.

I would wait and see what the OH doctor says, and if she is unhappy with his report, would her GP be prepared to write to her employer on her behalf?

Thanks Flowery. I've asked her to do that. Does she need to say anything to the OH doctor?

I would advise your friend to make a written record of how she feels - impact on sleep patterns, appetite, concentration, ability to do things, tearfulness, palpitations etc and hand this to the OHW Dr, both to ensure that nothing is forgotten, and that there is a written record.

It can be quite intimidating and hard to get your point across in a OHW meeting.

Depending on whether the OH service is in house or outsourced, she may be able to request to see a different doctor. It may also be helpful to take a friend or relative with her to help with explaining how it's affecting her everyday life - that is if she's comfortable with somebody else knowing about her illness. Quite often people bring their partners.

Before the consultation she'll be asked to sign a consent form which gives three options. To have no copy of the report, to have a copy at the same time as her employer or to see the report two working days before it's released to her employer, at which point she can raise objections to any aspect of the report she feels is inaccurate, before her employer sees it.

I hope she gets on ok with it.