Recently I  had some advice that I had apparently given quoted back at me - the individual had asked me a hypothetical question about a health issue as I was getting into my car to drive home, I  gave a 3 word answer, she then quoted it back, with embellishment at a subsequent disciplinary as mitigation.
 
the moral of  the story is - no referral, no opinion. The original issue in the first mail in this thread is a good example of why you should not respond to "lurkers", the man needs to be told we are not the health police....

From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of [log in to unmask]
Sent: 07 June 2012 13:55
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [OCC-HEALTH] Lurking referrals!

I totally concur with this approach, Carr. It is too easy to get into very hot water by giving ad hoc advice.

I had one very difficult encounter with a client a couple of months into my first OH post. I won’t go into details except to say I didn’t make the same mistake twice. On reflecting on the experience immediately afterwards -  the difficulties I experienced were purely the result of not having followed the formal referral process.

Anne Harriss
Course Director
LONDON SOUTH BANK UNIVERSITY


On 07/06/2012 13:00, "Carr Barnes" <[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Hi 

I'm afraid that as long as you continue to enable they will continue to nab you. You have to get in the habit of saying politely but firmly "I am very sorry but I have no time to talk, if you want OH advice I recommend you make a formal referral and that way the case will get the attention it deserves".

I have found that when I consistently applied that method like a broken record they soon started falling in with the correct process.

The other problem with the adhoc is the risk of the manager using it as a formal opinion and documenting it as so with the employee, union etc..... could be the pathway to hot water professionally!

Carr

On 7 June 2012 11:02, Georgina Mills <[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Any opinions would be welcomed! 

I've been on a site this morning carrying out random D&A tests and as much as I try to stay as far away from those senior managers who see the nurse and say 'can I grab a quick word?' - I got cornered! I have dealt with the situation but wondered if how any of you handle these lurkers who never seem to want anything to formalise anything!

He had a member of staff who was signed off after an infection to a surgical wound. The gent has come back to work now but was in the company of his work colleagues playing golf and at a party on his last two days his fit note covered him for. Management have spoken to him about it and he said he felt much better on those two days but as he was 'signed off' decided not to come into work. The manager wanted me to provide a 'professional opinion' on whether, in general, if a person was fit enough to play 18holes of golf and attend a party would they be fit enough to be back at work (admin). 

My suspicions were correct that the manager wanted to use 'my opinion' as basis for a disciplinary. 

Straight forward our days are not!

Georgina

Sent from my iPhone


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