Statement of Confidentiality
The provision of a confidential, informed and impartial service to the individuals, departments, and external organisations that use the University Occupational Health Service (UOHS) is essential to maintain a professional relationship of trust. All Occupational Health Service staff work to a strict code of ethics concerning the confidentiality of consultations and medical records.
If a report is required by a manager concerning, for example, an individual’s fitness for work, it may be necessary to disclose some part of an individual’s medical history. In such circumstances we will always discuss this disclosure with the individual concerned and obtain their informed consent prior to sending a report. The UOHS will provide advice to University departments without breaching medical confidentiality. This advice should be treated by the recipient as sensitive personal data in respect of the Data Protection Act 1998 and the University Policy on Data Protection.
This means that the advice can be shared by the recipient only with others who have a legitimate need to know e.g. because they will be responsible for implementing adjustments in the workplace and only with the permission of the individual concerned.
Each member of UOHS staff has an obligation not to divulge any information learned in respect of his / her work activities within the UOHS, as detailed below:
1. Clinical UOHS staff
Personal medical information about an individual may be disclosed to a third party outside the UOHS only if:
- the individual him/herself has given informed consent for this to the UOHS clinician
- the individual has refused consent but the UOHS clinician is ordered to disclose information by a court of law or required to disclose by an Act of Parliament.
2. UOHS clerical and administrative staff
Any matter relating to individuals seen at the UOHS including personal details, health or medical information, including diagnosis, investigation, or treatment, advice sought and/or given, whether from individual clinical records or from other sources will not be divulged to any third party by clerical or administrative staff without exception.