The Importance of Notifying Your GP of Any Injury Sustained at Work
There are important steps a person needs to take in the unfortunate event they sustain an injury from a work accident.
In Australia, injured workers are covered by workers’ compensation schemes that will cover medical costs and lost wages to help them recover and get back to work.
Seeking a medical assessment of your work injury as soon as possible after it occurs is a crucial element in making a claim for workers’ compensation.
This post provides more detail on the importance of seeing a general practitioner after the injury is sustained.
What you should do immediately after you’re injured at work
Obviously, some injuries sustained in the workplace will require immediate treatment, perhaps administered by a designated first aid or work, health, and safety officer.
Once stabilized, it’s vital an injured worker visit a doctor for an assessment as soon as possible, whether the injury is physical or psychological.
A GP (or, in some cases, a specialist medical practitioner) has important responsibilities when it comes to assessing an injured worker, including:
- advising on appropriate treatment options;
- setting expectations around treatment, recovery, and return to work;
- referring the worker to other service providers as necessary for recovery from the injury and return to work;
- assessing capacity for work and completing the certificate of capacity, the important document that provides essential information to the insurance company and the employer about the employee’s injury;
- identifying any obstacles to the employee’s return to work;
- creating a treatment plan and timeline for the employee’s return to work.
A GP will usually provide an initial medical certificate to a worker who is injured that documents the nature of the injury; its diagnosis and planned treatment; whether the worker’s medical condition is consistent with the circumstances of injury; appropriate hours of work and restrictions; certify lack of fitness to work (if medically necessary) and; a date of review for the worker’s injury. Subsequent medical certificates might also be required.
A GP’s role in issuing a certificate of capacity is particularly important. The certificate will be used by the workers’ compensation authority and the insurer to accept the worker’s claim, determine entitlements under the compensation scheme and approve the medical treatment that is reasonably necessary for the worker’s recovery.
There are also exceptions where workers can access some medical services without pre-approval from an insurer.
A certificate of capacity from a GP is also important to provide to the employer, helping to establish a return-to-work plan which might see an injured worker undertake – for example – limited tasks and/or different duties during recovery.
It is crucial that medical certificates and certificates of capacity are accurate, legible, and clear about the injured worker’s treatment plan, capacity for work, and return to work schedule. Confusion or uncertainty can lead to delays in processing an employee’s compensation claim.
Does a worker have to attend a work doctor?
An injured worker can visit the doctor of their choice. It will sometimes be preferable to see their regular GP because the doctor will know their medical history.
While an insurer or workers’ compensation authority can later insist the worker undergo a medical assessment with a doctor or medical specialist of its choosing, this can only be for an assessment rather than treatment.
Similarly, an employer or a representative of their employer is not permitted to attend a worker’s personal medical appointments, as some claimants have been told on some occasions. If an injured worker thinks they have been pressured to provide access to their medical treatment by an employer or insurer, they should seek legal advice as soon as possible.
Speak with workers’ compensation specialists
At Gajic Lawyers, we are specialists in workers’ compensation claims. If you’re injured at work we can help you put together a claim that has the best chance of success, and put you in the picture as to your rights and responsibilities.
If you need further information on the importance of medical treatment and assessments of your injury in making a claim, call us Gajic Perth injury lawyers today for detailed advice and guidance. You can contact us in major cities in Australia including, Perth, Adelaide, Cabramatta & Parramatta.
