Amanda,
I suggest you take a look at the publication from the FoM 'Guidance on ethics for occupational physicians'.
Page 9, section 3.18-3.31, 'Disclosure of confidential information to the employer or their agent', which states among other things, The GMC requirement to "keep disclosures to the minimum necessary". It also says many other interesting things that would be relevant to your situation.
Without doubt HR would in this situation be classed as the 'employer's agent'.
Regards, Bob
Robert Dunn TD
RGN OHNC SCPHN(OH) MSc
Senior Occupational Health Adviser
University of Oxford Occupational Health Service
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Amanda Savage
Sent: 16 April 2010 10:35
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [OCC-HEALTH] Confidentiality & OH Records
Does any have information that states (ideally legally) the difference between Personnel, HR records being confidential & OH records containing sensitive personal information?
Our HR department in their infinite wisdom are trying to rotate the OH admin team with the general HR admin team which will result in the HR admin people having free access to al employees OH records when they are working in OH.
This causes concern for everyone in OH due to the sensitive nature of OH records & the possibility of abuse but we have been given the blanket statement by the HR manager that 'all HR information is confidential' and as we are part of the HR department there is no difference between OH records & HR records - I disagree but need some evidence they are seeing this a my (negative) personal opinion as I do not wish to loose my fantastic admin team rather than trying to protect the individual, my registration and the organsiation.
PLEASE help
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