OCD Action

bizarre1
Member

Hi all,
Just looking for some advice, i've had OCD since I was 11 and tried to hide it for most of my life. Some things have happened recently and I have told my husband everything. I want to go to the doctor to get help, but Im afraid that it will go on my medical records and effect my job or future applications. I am a secondary school teacher. My rituals are to do with washing and contamination.
Can the school look at my medical records....please help
x

Tue Jun 1 2010 23:00:40 #
Dotty
Moderator

Hi Bizarre 1 looks like you are new to the Forum? If so, hope you find it useful to exchange views and problems with others.

You can always ring our Helpline and have a chat with a volunteer, some of whom are OCD sufferers themselves.

Dottie

Wed Jun 2 2010 10:37:28 #
poppyfields
Member

Hi Bizarre and welcome to the forum. I've just watched a new advert for Dettol No Hands Pump Hand Soap Dispenser and now i want one aaaargh no i don't. Contamination ocd is a right pain in the proverbial isn't it. I would say that first off what goes on at your doctors is between you and them and he won't disclose your medical records to anyone. As for declaring your ocd in future job applications, i've only been diagnosed for the last 6 years and suffered with it for many years before that without realising it was an 'it'. I found 3 jobs in that time and never declared that i was an ocd sufferer. I believe job applications go on what you tell them and they can't ask to see your doctors records as far as i'm aware. You would always have to give your permission for this access anyhow. I think you're very wise and brave to tell your husband which can't have been easy and i could never do much to my detriment. In my opinion, i think you need to go to your doctor and get a diagnosis and then the support and help that you need and deserve. Pops

Wed Jun 2 2010 18:21:48 #
Truddles
Member

Have you seen how much the refills for the No Hands Pump Soap Dispenser are With the amount of hand wash I use I'd need a mortgage

Wed Jun 2 2010 19:31:21 #
Advocate 1
Moderator

Hello Bizarre,

Thanks for your post. A GP will have to record information on your visit, but there is no reason why you cannot discuss those concerns directly with him or her. OCD is part of the Anxiety spectrum and it might be that you could ask for the information to be recorded as such, if you feel more comfortable with this. Whilst there is no guarantee that this would be the case,the discussion might be worth having.You certainly have the right to see what is recorded in your notes. We have an excellent GP card that you can take into your consultation, which can be downloaded from the Advocacy section of our website.
In regard to your issue re medical notes. This is an area where the law may well be changing over he next few months. In October parts of the new Equalities Act 2010 will come into force.This Act pulls together alot of pre exisitng disability discrimination legilsation, and tightens it up, so people across the board who face discrimination will have more protection. One area that is likely to be amended is the fact that employers can ask you to complete medical questionnaires prior to offering you a job and therefore can potentially 'screen' applicants in this way. Under new proposals, medicals are likely to be completed after a job offer has been made. You are obviously already in employment. The Data Protection Act covers medical information and the general principle is that you have to give consent to third parties before any access is allowed, Doctors also have to follow a strict code of confidentially in regard to patient records and again you have rights under the new NHS Consitution which states that ' you have the right to privacy and confidentiality and to expect the NHS to keep your confidntial information safe and secure'. There are caveats to this, but these breaches are usually where threat to life, comission of a crime or the safefy to others is concerned.
Please have a look at the materials on the Advocacy section of this website- there are two specific PDFs which may help- one on OCD and Work and one called 'Employing someone with OCD'. Both these factsheets will tell you about legislation that is there to support you.
If you want to give me a call at any time please do- the Advocacy number is 0845 3906234.
Regards
Jude ( Advocacy Manager OCD Action)

Fri Jun 4 2010 8:08:00 #
Johnny99
Member

With the OH forms required by the LEA you are in, it is best to disclose and see the OH nurse or doctor. You will often find they are very friendly and helpful people. They don't want to catch you out and stop you from working, they want to see if there is anything they can do to make your workplace more suited to your needs. In teaching these forms will almost always be completed after a job offer. If you are fit to teach (OCD is VERY unlikely to bar you as it poses no threat to the pupils in your care) then the OH might arrange for you to have systems put in place to make your working life easier.

Hope this helps,

J.

Wed Jul 21 2010 22:37:38 #
Johnny99
Member

Also no, the school cannot look at your medical records, only occupational health could do that and even then they would ask you for permission to consult with your GP.

Wed Jul 21 2010 22:39:02 #
Nightbird
Member

I worried about that myself Bizarre - I understand your concerns, but in the end you're seeking help to keep you going with work and with life: to make these things better and to free up the headspace we waste ruminating. I think it gets to a point sometimes where that need for support outweighs these possible problems.

So many people suffer mental health issues of one kind or another these days. Many people need some meds for a time to support them through a tricky patch - some therapy or both. Lots of people have to take time out for these things. If you are still working and its not affected by your disorder and you aren't having loads of time off for it that would seem to be the main thing. That's all they're really worried about - right?

I don't want to condone witholding info as a good idea, but it seems with most pre work OH questionaires they only investigate if you suggest there is something for them to investigate. I blame the ruthlessness of Capitalism for the whole OH system!!!!!

Wed Jul 28 2010 19:31:12 #
bizarre1
Member

Well telliing my hubby was the best thing i've ever done....he's been so good with me...i can tell he gets fristrated now and again, but he really helps and doesnt always pander to the OCD which I think is great. My doctor was great and put me on meds, im so glad i told them and my work doesnt know and doesnt need to it doesnt effect my job and all my cpd assessments have been excellent happy days

Sun Oct 10 2010 8:44:32 #
bizarre1
Member

thanks for your support xxxxx

Sun Oct 10 2010 8:45:14 #