Can an employer ask a medical adviser is an employee fit to attend a disciplinary hearing?

A common problem for employers is that of the employee who, on being told to attend a disciplinary hearing, absents themselves by reason of ill health, frequently citing stress as the cause. If the employee is still absent after a period of time the employer may, subject to the employee's consent, obtain medical advice from the employee’s own GP or an independent specialist.

As a matter of good practice, it is usually sensible for employers to already have this consent in place which the employer can do by obtaining the employee’s permission at the outset of the relationship when they are asked to sign a contract of employment. The employer can then obtain an expert’s opinion without