What do I need to bring to a GP appointment for a work injury?

Bring your employer's name and address, your claim number if you have one, the date and time of the injury, details of how it happened (what you were doing, what went wrong), any photos of the injury or workplace, names of any witnesses, and your Medicare card. If you have already reported the injury to your employer, bring any paperwork they gave you. If you have not yet reported it, your GP can help you start the process.

Does WorkCover pay for my GP visit?

In Australia, once your WorkCover claim is accepted, your GP visits related to the work injury are covered by the insurer — you should not have to pay out of pocket. Before the claim is accepted, you may need to pay upfront and be reimbursed. Some GPs bulk bill the initial WorkCover consultation. Ask your GP practice when booking. In New Zealand, ACC covers work injuries automatically — your GP visit is covered from the first appointment with a small surcharge.

Can I choose my own GP for a WorkCover claim?

Yes. In Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the UK, you have the right to choose your own GP for a workplace injury claim. Your employer cannot force you to see a particular doctor. However, the insurer may request an independent medical examination with a doctor of their choosing at a later stage — this is separate from your treating GP.

Work Injury GP Visit

What to bring, what your GP needs, and what to expect when you see your doctor about a workplace injury.

📋 Source: Safe Work Australia. State workers' compensation schemes (iCare NSW, WorkSafe VIC, WorkCover QLD, WorkCover WA, ReturnToWorkSA, WorkSafe TAS, Access Canberra ACT, NT WorkSafe). ACC New Zealand. UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Provincial workers' compensation boards (Canada). This is general information only — not legal advice.
Your doctor or healthcare provider knows your history and circumstances — always follow their personalised advice over general information.

📋 What to bring to your appointment

✅Your employer's name and address ✅Your claim number (if you already have one — if not, that's OK) ✅Date and time of injury — be as specific as you can ✅What happened — what you were doing, what went wrong, what body part was affected ✅Photos — of the injury, the workplace, or the equipment involved (if you have any) ✅Witness names — if anyone saw the incident ✅Any paperwork from your employer — incident report, claim forms, employer details ✅Your Medicare card (or health card for your country) ✅Current medications list — especially if your injury may need pain relief or new medication

Haven't reported it to your employer yet? That's OK — your GP can help you start the process. In most cases you should report the injury to your employer as soon as possible (ideally within days, not weeks).

What your GP will do

1Assess your injury — examine you, order tests if needed (X-ray, blood tests, imaging) 2Treat you — pain relief, wound care, referral to specialist or physio if needed 3Write a certificate of capacity — this tells your employer and the insurer what you can and can't do at work. It may say "fit for full duties", "fit for modified duties" (light duties), or "unfit for work" for a period of time 4Complete claim paperwork — your GP fills in the medical section of the workers' compensation claim form 5Plan follow-up — you may need regular GP reviews to update your certificate of capacity as you recover

What to tell your GP

Be specific and honest. Your GP's notes become part of your claim. Include:

📍Exactly how it happened — "I was lifting a box from the floor and felt a sharp pain in my lower back" is better than "I hurt my back at work" 💢All symptoms — pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, swelling, reduced movement. Don't minimise it 📅When it started — immediately at the time of injury, or gradually over days/weeks 🔄What makes it worse — sitting, standing, lifting, specific work tasks 🏥Previous injuries to the same area — be upfront about this, the insurer will check 💼Your normal job duties — what does your job physically require? Lifting, standing, driving, typing? 🧠Mental health impact — if the injury is causing anxiety, sleep problems, or low mood, tell your GP. Psychological injury is covered too

How it works in your country

Workers' Compensation — State-based

Step-by-step: What happens after your GP visit

1.Report to employer — tell your employer about the injury as soon as possible (ideally same day). Most states require notification within 30 days. 2.GP completes medical certificate — your GP fills in a Workers' Compensation Medical Certificate (called a "certificate of capacity" in most states). This describes your injury, restrictions, and fitness for work. 3.Employer lodges claim with insurer — your employer sends the claim form + your medical certificate to the workers' comp insurer. In QLD, this goes to WorkCover Queensland. Some employers will ask you to fill in a Worker's Claim Form as well. 4.Insurer accepts or investigates — the insurer reviews the claim. Straightforward physical injuries are usually accepted within 1–4 weeks. Psychological claims can take longer. 5.Treatment covered — once accepted, the insurer pays for GP visits, physio, specialist referrals, imaging, medications, and surgery related to the injury. You should not pay out of pocket for approved treatment. 6.Ongoing GP reviews — your GP updates the certificate of capacity at each visit. As you improve, the certificate moves from "unfit" to "modified duties" to "full duties".

Common mistakes that delay or weaken your claim

❌Waiting too long to see a GP — the longer you wait, the harder it is to link the injury to work. See your GP within days, not weeks. ❌Not reporting to employer — even if you think it's minor, report it. An unreported injury is much harder to claim for later. ❌Minimising symptoms — tell your GP everything. "It's not that bad" in the notes will be used against your claim if it gets worse. ❌Seeing a different GP each time — continuity matters. Stick with one GP for the whole claim if possible. ❌Not mentioning pre-existing conditions — the insurer will check. Be honest with your GP upfront. An aggravation of a pre-existing condition is still claimable.

QLD — WorkCover Queensland

📞Claims: 1300 362 128 🌐Website: worksafe.qld.gov.au 📝Worker's claim form: Form 150 — available from your employer or WorkCover QLD website ⏱️Time limit: Report to employer ASAP. Lodge claim within 6 months of injury (but don't wait — lodge early). 💰Weekly comp: 85% of normal weekly earnings (NWE) for first 26 weeks, then 75% of NWE (26–104 weeks). First week paid by employer (employer excess). 🩺GP costs: Covered once claim accepted. Before acceptance, your GP may bulk bill or you pay and get reimbursed.

Other states

State	Insurer	Claim phone
NSW	iCare / SIRA	13 77 22
VIC	WorkSafe Victoria	1800 136 089
WA	WorkCover WA	1300 794 744
SA	ReturnToWorkSA	13 18 55
TAS	WorkSafe Tasmania	1300 366 322
ACT	Access Canberra	13 22 81
NT	NT WorkSafe	1800 019 115

Choose your own GP: Yes — your employer cannot tell you which doctor to see.

Fit Notes & Employer Liability

The UK does not have a state-based workers' compensation scheme like Australia. Instead:

📝Fit note — your GP issues a "Statement of Fitness for Work" (fit note) if you're off work for more than 7 days. This can say "not fit for work" or "may be fit for work" with adjustments. 💷Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) — your employer pays SSP (£116.75/week in 2024–25) for up to 28 weeks. Your GP visit is free on the NHS. ⚖️Employer liability claim — if your employer was at fault, you may be able to claim compensation through their employer liability insurance. This is a legal process, not a GP process. 📋RIDDOR — your employer must report certain workplace injuries to the Health and Safety Executive under RIDDOR regulations.

GP cost: Free (NHS). Your GP will issue a fit note at no charge.

ACC — Accident Compensation Corporation

New Zealand has a no-fault accident scheme. If you're injured at work (or anywhere), ACC covers you automatically.

🏥GP lodges the claim — your GP files an ACC45 form at your first visit. You don't need to do anything except attend. 💰GP cost: You pay a small surcharge (typically $0–$20 depending on your practice). ACC pays the rest. 💊Treatment covered: GP visits, physio, surgery, prescriptions, imaging — all related to the injury. ACC pays. 📅Weekly compensation: If you can't work, ACC pays 80% of your pre-injury earnings after the first week (your employer covers the first week). 📞ACC contact: 0800 101 996 or acc.co.nz

Provincial Workers' Compensation Boards

Each province has its own workers' compensation board:

Province	Board
Ontario	WSIB (Workplace Safety & Insurance Board)
British Columbia	WorkSafeBC
Alberta	WCB Alberta
Quebec	CNESST

GP cost: Covered by your provincial health insurance (OHIP, MSP, etc.) as normal. Workers' comp covers treatment beyond standard health coverage (physio, specialists, time off work).

Your doctor fills in a Form 8 (Ontario) or equivalent — this reports the injury to the compensation board. Your employer also files their own report.

No. Your employer receives the certificate of capacity (which says what duties you can do) but does NOT receive your medical records, diagnosis details, or GP notes. Your GP can only release information to the insurer with your written consent, and even then it should be limited to the injury being claimed.

If your employer pressures you to share medical details beyond the certificate, you can decline. Contact your insurer or union if this happens.

You can appeal. Every scheme has a review and appeals process. In Australia, contact your state insurer for the internal review process. In NZ, ACC has a formal review process. In most cases, getting a detailed medical report from your GP supporting the connection between your work and the injury strengthens the appeal.

Consider seeking advice from a workers' compensation lawyer — many offer free initial consultations. Your union (if you have one) can also assist.

Psychological injuries from work — including bullying, harassment, work-related stress, PTSD from workplace incidents, and anxiety or depression caused by work conditions — are covered by workers' compensation in most jurisdictions. These claims are often more complex and may take longer to process.

Your GP can initiate both a workers' compensation claim and a Mental Health Treatment Plan simultaneously. This means you can access psychology sessions while the claim is being processed.

Mental Health Care Plan guide →

If your injury happened in a car accident (even during work), a separate motor vehicle accident scheme may apply:

🇦🇺Australia: CTP (Compulsory Third Party) insurance — state-based. NSW: SIRA. QLD: MAIC. VIC: TAC. 🇳🇿NZ: ACC covers all accidents including motor vehicle. 🇬🇧UK: Claim against the at-fault driver's motor insurance. 🇨🇦Canada: Provincial auto insurance (ICBC in BC, SAAQ in QC) or tort system.

Your GP can help you understand which scheme applies and fill in the correct paperwork.