I am currently signed off sick with anxiety by my doctor. Do I need to attend occ health appointment?

Question

I have just received a letter from occupational health saying "my employer has requested them (occ health) to provide them with advice regarding my health in relation to my employment..." and that
I am required to attend an appointment. This letter has made me even more anxious than I was previously. Am I legally obliged to attend this appointment? If so where can I find information on my legal obligations? (I can't find anything in my contract). If I am required to attend am I expected to attend it at my workplace? My main reason for not wanting to attend is because it means I would have to go there. If anyone can help I would be really greatful.

Thanks for the advice so far but is my own doctor's certificate not satisfactory. The appointment that occupational health are asking me to attend is just with a nurse. Surely my own doctor is better placed to decided whether or not I am fit for work?

Answer 1

hi babe
I know all about anxiety and i don't think you need an occ health appt. Your employer is just being nosey! Get yourself well and read the book self help with your nerves. Anxiety has overtaken my life since i had my children and it is the worst thing.Take care and remember you are not alone xxxx

Answer 2

If you are off sick for 4 short periods, of 4 to 7 days, or one long period in any year your employer can ask for Medical Services to check up on you. This can be done through HM Revenue and Customs, so they are legally entitled to ask you to attend. If your employer is paying you more than Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) then you are lucky. Your employer has an obligation to make sure that they are not contributing to your ill health. You may be asked to sign a form allowing them to contact your own doctor. They cannot contact your doctor without your permission. Even if they find you fit for work, you have the right of appeal. Normally these things are only a formality.

Answer 3

I work for the MoD so it might be different but we are legally obliged to attend the occ health if signed off for a certain length of time. I presume its because people can now 'buy' sicknotes from docters so its to satisfy their own records. They cannot legally sack you if they find you are indeed suffering from anxiety so it might help to see them to prove it. If you do not attend they can sack you for not working your contracted hours (this should be somewhere in contract) without a valid reason.

As for attending it in the workplace, if something is happening at work for you to be anxious, then you can request to see the occ health gp at another location. If they refuse then this is going against your rights because you are not refusing to see them just the location of the appointment. Ask to see them at your local gp's?

I'm afraid this is all i have to offer!! Hope its of some help :)

Answer 4

I really symapathise with you here but my understanding of this situation is that if you remain in the employ of your employer while you are on sick leave, and presumably on full or partial pay for now, that employer has the right to have you assessed medically to enable them to decide if you are fit enough to continue in your job. The real problem here is that it is not like a broken leg and your very stress and anxiety is going to be raised if you have to attend a medical assessment. I would imagine that your appointment will be with a doctor at his own practice or other centre. I think you have two choices providing you are absolutely frank with yourself and your employer ... (1) to simply attend the assessment, or (2) talk to your own GP and express your fears about this all and see what he advises. You may feel that you are simply not right enough yet to be assessed and yes, that can be scarey but I do feel that your employer has the law on its side. You really need to talk to yourself as well and decide what you want from all of this. Perhaps your job is simply not good for you anyway? Was your stress work-related? It sound like you are keeping this all bottled up inside yourself and I think you would benefit from being more open with a lot more people.

Answer 5

Hi, I had the same problem last October. I can only suggest that you go and see them. The anxiety will make you not want to go. It's a natural reaction called avoidance. When, I went the GP at the Occupational health was really sympathetic gave better advice than my GP and told my employers very politely they were bullies and to back off. I would take someone along for moral support. Don't go back to work until you feel better, it;s a bad idea ( I tried it, very stupid). If you want to ask questions please feel free to email. Good Luck and don't worry too much the anxiety makes molehills into mountains.

Answer 6

as far as i know you don't have to go but it may affect any sick pay you are receiving it would be wiser to go and keep your sick pay.
try citizens advice for more info

Answer 7

no attendance would end up with you being denied sick pay or of kind

Answer 8

Just the govenments way of checkin out if you are fakin it..prove you are ill to them..