work requesting medical report rheumatologist recently advised my symptoms are inline with fibromyalgia

[Geeforce99]

Hi

has anyone gone through this when work ask for written consent to contact GP and Consultant, having months off work every year for the last three years it seems work have had enough and are asking to write to doctor and consultant. I have requested to see report first before it’s sent to my employer.

I am back at work but only managing three hours on phased return and now working in the office as can’t cope with standing any longer than five mins or so as causes cramping.

Would be helpful to hear about your experiences and should alarm bells be ringing ?

unsure thank you 🙏

[Dinkie]

You are protected under the Equality Act 2010. Your employer should be using the services of occupational health assessors and putting in place reasonable adjustments. When the OH prepares the report for your employers they will send it to you first and will give you 10 days in which to make comments, observations or suggested amendments before sending it on to your employer. If you request amendments the OH assessor does not have to comply with your wish but may add a comment at the bottom that you have requested x,y,z.

The assessor may ask to see reports but I just supplied the consultant's letter to my GP and that was sufficient for them.

I was very anti having the OH assessment but have to say it was the best thing for me. I had various adjustments put in place and 12 years later I am still with the same company which I am sure would not have been the case had I not gone along with the assessment.

Good luck, hope this helps a little.

[Geeforce99 in reply to Dinkie]

Hello Dinkie,

Thank you for reply my work said today they are contacting GP and Consultant as they require the long term affect of my illness and how it will affect me doing my job once they have the report they will call a meeting to discuss my future and the way forward and they may send report to external medical professionals to seek advice.

I have given permission for them to do so, I am only able to do three hours as once I get home my blood pressure was 170/110 yesterday a little lower today with burning stabbing and all over body pains which reduce slightly after I have been resting in bed for 2-3 hours, still feeling very weak nauseous today. If it get too much I will need to stay off my partner said she will put her foot down!

live day to day do what I can, live to work that what this is now like.

Take care all 🙏

[Gigiruth]

I was asked to do the same and had an OHS assessment. I was surprised that it went further than just my condition and the nature of my work. It said how I was effectively managing my condition and was well informed in what I needed.My employer agreed some very helpful reasonable adjustments including being able to go home at short notice if I felt fatigue coming on. This meant I could drive home safely. My manager was very helpful.

I hope you get understanding and support at work.

Gigi

[Dinkie]

if they dont give an occupational health assessment and they terminate your employment they are leaving themselves wide open to unfair dismissal case. This happened to my husband when his employer said his cancer GCA/PMR were minor issues. I took them to industrial tribunal and won considerable payout.

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff]

You might find our employment booklet useful at fmauk.org/publications