can i refuse to have my sickness record forwarded

[halia]

Hi all, I've been got to interview stage for a job and they have approached my referee for a reference - which is all fine.
Except they have asked for my sickness record, now I left that previuos job due to a health condition (which is now medicated). Before I left I was off for a while on sickleave. I'm don't want to have my sickness record forwarded but on the other hand I'm concerned that if they ask for it and don't get it that will be even worse.

what should I do

What is your current employer's policy?

My former employer would only confirm starting date and salary in their 'reference' - nothing else at all.

Could you explain situation to new employer? I think it is pretty standard for sickness record to be asked for as part of references - in fact is part of basic info an employer will give even if not willing to give a "full" reference, because it is fact rather than opinion.

I think your only option is to stress to potential employer that medication has resolved issue. Could you get some sort of medical opinion to confirm this?

Depending on condition, new employer may need to know for health & safety purposes, or if you fail to get job you may have a case under disability discrimination.

Am i correct in saying you've already had the interview? Why did you tell them you left?

nope, no interview yet. I applied for the job a while back and they didn't recruit in the end. I've now got another p/t job on a 6 month contract but these people rang me up and said they were now going to recruit again for jan interviews and as I had been a good applicant last time would I like to to go forward for interview now.

I'll have to say yes you can forward my sickness record i guess and hope that at interview I get the opportunity to discuss my health condition.

Yes it would 'count' as a disability as its a lifelong neurological condition but I really didnt' want to play the disabled card at all. It shouldn't affect my ability to do the job at all now I'm on the right medication, and it feels so bloody personal to have people asking loads of questions about it.