Originally Posted by
MyNameIsTerry
As Ben says your medical records are covered by data protection. If an employer wants to access them your GP has to obtain your consent first.
The issue is more when applying for jobs. Employers may ask about any health conditions you have which may then be filed with their occupational health team. You have the choice of telling them or not about any conditions which you suffer from at the time but not informing them, if they have asked, might give them the opportunity to claim breach of contract if they later found out.
If you tell them the question becomes whether they want an employee who may bring baggage that could affect them later. Whilst there may be laws about discrimination it's very easy for an employer to discriminate in this circumstance because it's impossible to prove without a whistle blower from their side. Just ask anyone older, the law says they are to be considered the same, not considering physical jobs that may not be appropriate, but try proving that. It comes down to the scruples of the employer.
How would it get on your record? That's more of an issue with references but many employers only confirm your time at the company and won't comment on sickness periods.
Some employers do ask about how periods of absence you have had in x previous years. That's a way they can easily discriminate if you volunteer the information. If you have two equal prospective employees would you take the one with the perfect absence record or the one who has had lots of time off?
That's more an issue for the future though in your case.