on 26/2/04 7:48 am, Ray Fagg at [log in to unmask] wrote:
> Donna and all
> It may be worth pointing out that the GP is acting as the patient's advocate
> and that any reports may be skewed. They are acting in the best interest of
> their patient which is why we see reports declaring a patent fit to return
> to work when they clearly are not. Does the GP properly understand the job
> the individual does or are they relying on 6-7 minutes of the patient
> telling the GP what it is they do? What you are able to offer is consistent
> and objective guidance. The benefit for HR and management is that they are
> receiving impartial rather than biased advice based on an understanding of
> the job and this returns control to the organisation rather than the
> individual acting through their GP. This may be a tad cynical but it worked
> for me in a similar situation.
>
> The comparison between GP reports and OH reports is rather false since it
> assumes that all GP's report the same way. There is plenty of evidence that
> GP's do not understand or like sickness absence.
>
> Hope this helps.
> Ray
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Clare Haddow" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2004 10:11 PM
> Subject: Re: GP/Consultant report requests
>
>
>> Hi Donna
>>
>> I understand where you are coming from.
>>
>> My suggestion would be to persevere with the explanations,
>> when I was faced with this problem I explained that as a
>> general rule of thumb, an OH professional would receive more
>> relevant info from the employee's GP than they would
>> normally give employers HR.
>>
>> I also explained that from a cost perspective the
>> organisation would be charged twice, once for the report for
>> HR and if considered necessary the GP report to OH. This
>> seems to have worked and I write off for medical reports now
>> at this particular company.
>>
>> Hope this is helpful.
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Clare
>>
>> Clare Haddow Occupational Health Specialists
>>
>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>I fully endorse the comments by Ray and Clare. An additional comment I would
like to make is that not only is the GP unlikely to be fully aware of the
workplace issues they may not be given a fully accurate picture as it is
purely from their patient's perspective - particularly if the client wishes
to remain on sick leave, or conversely if they wish to return to work
despite not being fit to fulfill the requirements of their post with or
without suitable modifications as required by the DDA.
Anne
>
>
>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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