If I think an individual is capable of some work with support and adjustments and they are reluctant to return I advise them that it is their responsibility whether they actually present themselves for work or not.  I encourage them to take the advice of their GP, specialists, physios, myself and their family members and decide for themselves what they want to do.  Invariably if an individual wishes to resume working then their GP will support them. 

I do sometimes write to a GP to advise them what the employer is able to do in order to support the employee in the workplace and I do not ask for consent for this although I do advise the employee that I am going to do it, I am not asking for anything back from the GP.

I then advise the employee that I will be writing to their management team offering them my opinion and if it is that is that I think that they could work with support or adjustments then I will write that.  It is entirely up to the management team what they do with that information and they can then decide upon their management strategy for the absence.

I am conscious that as an OHA my role is to give a health opinion not to manage absence for the Organisation. 

I hope this helps,

Sarah

 ...................................................................................................................

Sarah Redfearn  Dip HE Occupational Health

Occupational Health Nurse Advisor 

University of Hull

Hull, HU6 7RX

www.hull.ac.uk

01482 466010

-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Cathy Bloye
Sent: 16 June 2011 09:46
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [OCC-HEALTH] Involving GP's in back to work plans

We are looking into how best we can get GP's on board when trying to get members of staff back to work after long term sickness.  We have thought about simply writing to individual GP's to advise them of what is possible in terms of adjustments with a request that they discuss it with their patient.  Do any other members of the list do anything similar?  If so, do you have any letter templates that you would be prepared to share with us?

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