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In the U.S. , an employer has a right to whatever medical information is needed to administer your sick leave or disability benefits .
This is true, although many companies require the employee on sick leave or disability to fill out weekly status forms accompanied by a doctor's signed note.
Too, if the employer is self-insured, the employer usually has a right to certain info. Those who administer the health insurance (usually those in HR) may not release the info to any other employees but they can access a lot about your health situation.
The doctors statement may be required to give you special privileges of time off, ease of work load etc., as required under certain laws in the US, and probably the same in England. Without the doctors giving such information, you can be fired at will in US and probably England.
Apparently the employer is trying to determine if the OP has any rights due to medical problem that have to be met by the employer. Without the doctors written statements, the employer can just fire the OP if they are unhappy with his/her stress problems. Allowing the doctor to give the information to the employer, is to the OP's benefit if the doctor feels special allowances are needed. Without it, the OP can just be fired.
This is not a time for the OP to play games, about refusing to give permission for the information from the doctor. If the OP does not sign a release of information by the doctor, the employer can just assume there is really no problem, and bye, bye job.