OH Assist Playing Dirty, Think I Need a Little Help

PleasedButSticky · Post by **PleasedButSticky** » 06 Jun 2018, 16:21

Hi,

I'm currently on long term sick, 10 months with "moderate-severe mental health issues" - Oh assists words. OH assist wrote to me asking for permission to ask my GP for details on my health conditions, I replied to the letter the same week it landed. They also sent a letter to me arranging a phone interview on the same day the interview was scheduled, at this time I was in hospital so I missed the interview. They are saying I've not responded to the permission letter in the time period specified, and obviously that I failed to attend the ridiculously short notice telephone interview. I'm beginning to feel they are playing dirty in an attempt to stitch me up.

How should I proceed with this?

Edit: Also my parent is currently terminally ill, and I'm having to deal with all her care (as her sole carer) and financial affairs, she has been extremely unwell in recent week and I have been spending most of my time in hospital so in any case I feel there have been mitigating circumstances at work.

Thanks for any advice

postslippete · Post by **postslippete** » 06 Jun 2018, 17:27

Why would they try and stitch you up? Can't you just like ring them up and re-arrange for the telephone interview?

PleasedButSticky · Post by **PleasedButSticky** » 06 Jun 2018, 17:55

postslippete wrote:Why would they try and stitch you up? Can't you just like ring them up and re-arrange for the telephone interview?

To elaborate, I've had dealings with them before as ATOS, they fabricated an interview I attended with a seriously ill family member, he was deemed to be in perfect health despite medical records confirming heart failure, kidney failure and cancer - I fought them then and a judge at an independent tribunal fully agreed with me that it was a stitch up, something he'd seen repeatedly. In short, I don't trust them.

I'm more concerned about them saying I 'failed to respond to the request for access to my GP in the allocated time' - which is a lie. Granted I may be being a bit jumpy (albeit with good reason), but things like that and sending out a letter for an interview that occurs on the same day is unreasonable, and a 'tactic' I've seen them use before.

Union is picking it up for me but appreciate any advice if anyone has similar experience.

Post by **TheBushBaby** » 06 Jun 2018, 18:55

One thing you could do perhaps is contact ACAS and get an early conciliation certificate, with a view to go to an Employment Tribunal for disability Discrimination.

Under Royal MAil sick policy, they will consider you disabled after twelve months or before if your GP declares it.

Post by **General Mannerheim** » 06 Jun 2018, 19:14

TheBushBaby wrote:One thing you could do perhaps is contact ACAS and get an early conciliation certificate, with a view to go to an Employment Tribunal for disability Discrimination.

Under Royal MAil sick policy, they will consider you disabled after twelve months or before if your GP declares it.

Also as a carer for your parent who is terminal you could do them for disability by association as well.

PleasedButSticky · Post by **PleasedButSticky** » 06 Jun 2018, 20:06

Thanks very much guys, interesting points and Ill raise them with my rep. OH Assist have previously stated that my condition is likely to be covered under the disability discrimination act. And I have that phone call recorded.

I should have also said in my op that both the DOM and myself agree that IHR is the best option for me and we are going down that road, which is why I feel there may be incentive for them to find a cheaper way of getting rid of me.

Forgive any lack of clarity, my head is all over the place.