Sheilding /Employer

[Gilsla]

Hi, has anyone experience to share when approaching a employer if I want to sheild, but can't work from home. I'm not in the most vunerable group but still at high risk and advised to sheild. I take montelukast and a high dose of fostair 200/6. Currently my options are to use my annual leave progressing on to unpaid leave. My colleagues in this same situation can work from home and get paid. I want to sheild as I worked hard to stabilise my asthma and want to protect what little breath I have left. My peak flow average is 250

[LDloveslattecoffe]

asthma.org.uk/advice/trigge...

Asthma UK guidance in conjunction with the National Clinical Director for Respiratory at NHS England says even if not got the NHS letter you should be shielding.

If you on high dose fostair you should be shielding 12 weeks.

1) Equality Act 2010 means an employer has to make reasonable adjustments

2) Employer has a duty of care to you.

More relevantly

3) If you are shielding in line with public health guidance or required to stay home due to an individual in your household shielding and are unable to work from home, then you should speak to your employer about whether they plan to place staff on furlough.

Find out what this is.

gov.uk/guidance/check-if-yo...

If you are unable to work, including from home, due to caring responsibilities arising from coronarivus (COVID-19), such as caring for children who are at home as a result of school and childcare facilities closing, or caring for a vulnerable individual in your household, then you should speak to your employer about whether they plan to place staff on furlough.

Hope that helps

[Gilsla in reply to LDloveslattecoffe]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. This is very helpful. I hate making a fuss, I know what its like to be in the vunerable category. I don't want to go back there.

[Poobah in reply to Gilsla]

If your employer has no access to an occupational health service to carry out a review to identify the reasonable adjustments to protect you in the workplace, you can use the government funded Access to Work.

gov.uk/access-to-work

Reasonable adjustments can extend to paid time off if the risks cannot be minimised. Definitely worth pursuing.

[Gilsla in reply to Poobah]

We do have OH. Thank you for your time, with all this advice,I feel so much more confident when I speak with my manager in the morning.

[Smoggy1990Boggy]

Please let us know how you get on. There have been people omitted from the list that should be on it. Covid 19 is a respiratory illness I think anyone with a lung condition on a preventer should have been shielded.

[Gilsla in reply to Smoggy1990Boggy]

Of course I will keep you posted. I have already acted on advice given and have asked to be referred to OH.

Yes agree with you, there will be a section of high risk asthma sufferers that would have been missed in the first round of letters. Reading todays updated advice on asthma.org uk it might look like doctors are doing another sweep of their patients to identify the higher risk, previously missed.

What I have found hard, is the reluctance of some GP's, my own included, to categorically refuse to discuss individual cases.

They obviously have never experienced the fear of not knowing if you will take your next breath

[Wheezebag13 in reply to Gilsla]

You need to stay home "shielding" for 12 weeks. This is enforced by the Government and your employer is breaching the law by not complying.

[Gilsla in reply to Wheezebag13]

Thank you for this, I will keep you posted

[Smoggy1990Boggy in reply to Gilsla]

To be fair the list didn’t come from GP’s and there is a fair few who have asthma too. I think the whole situation has been mishandled by the government

[Gilsla in reply to Smoggy1990Boggy]

Fair point and acknowledged and I apologise. My frustrations of going around in circles trying to find out how severe my asthma was, slipped out.

[Smoggy1990Boggy in reply to Gilsla]

I understand from the aspect of you having worked hard to stabilise your asthma and then trying to get clarity on the shielding. I think a lot of people are unhappy with the shielding list and inconsistent information

[Gilsla in reply to Gilsla]

Hi, a quick update on my position after a assessment with Occupational Health.

They view me fit for work, but have advised my employer appropriate ppe will be required. I'm grateful for that.

I know I am fit for work, that was never my question, I kept getting inconsistent advice on whether to sheild or not and what category my asthma fitted into.

To recap I'm on fostair 200/6 2 puffs twice a day and montelukast, but my asthma is controlled.

I think that's the key in all this.

[Smoggy1990Boggy in reply to Gilsla]

How are things now? What kind of work do you do?

[Gilsla in reply to Smoggy1990Boggy]

Hi there,

I'm a cleaner, I'v been continuing to sheild over the last few weeks( took some leave unpaid) to give me time to work if I should have been on the sheilding list, but I will have to return to work next week as I financially can't afford any more.

Recently the gov provided a list of how they categorise a severe asthmatic with regards to sheilding, as I have not required oral steroids in the specified time frame I would not be placed on the sheilding list. I did get OH involved and they found me fit for work also as my asthma was controlled and I hadn't required steroids.

No sheilding letter and no support from O H left me with little choice but to take time off unpaid but I will have to return.

I had went to these lengths to safeguard what stamina I have left after being poorly nearly 2 years ago. I find after every flare up, a little bit of you gets lost.

If I had a choice, I would sheild, but unfortunately considering everything, I can't.

Thank you for taking the time to ask, its lovely to experience everyone's kindness.

Take care🌈

[Smoggy1990Boggy in reply to Gilsla]

Please get in touch with your GP practice again find one who has been DUP price before. You are a key worker and a domestic supervisor lost their life to Covid 19 at only 34 years old. I think you are also in a high risk job. Do you have any other health problems?

[Gilsla in reply to Smoggy1990Boggy]

Oh no, that's just so awful to hear. It's a abhorrent virus.

Apart from asthma and menopausal symptoms.... I'm healthy.

I will try my doctors again, the challenge for me is getting past the receptionist, then nurse practiioner. I had been abit brow beaten, but I'm planning one last attempt.

Please excuse my ignorance, I'm unsure what DUP is.

Again thanks for your wise words, I do appreciate it.

[Smoggy1990Boggy in reply to Smoggy1990Boggy]

Apologies autocorrect changed word. I was saying please if there is someone who has been supportive before at your GP practice ask to speak to them. If they are unavailable ask to speak to a GP. You do not have to give a reason for phoning up. What PPE are the cleaners being provided with? Have you ever been in hospital? On oral steroids? Under secondary care?

[Gilsla in reply to Smoggy1990Boggy]

I promise I will get back to doctors. You have geed me up....

Normally I wear an overall, gloves and a mask when working in dusty areas.

I will complete a risk assessment when I get back to work.

Ironically I fought hard to hold down a job and not let asthma take my independence after one extremely bad attack.

Yes I'v been in hospital, yes I'v been under a chest specialist, yes iv had lots of steroid tablets over the years.

But not in the last 2 years. The meds fostair and montelukast have kept it under control along with a controlled diet. Around this time I linked certain foods to allergies and certain environments. Too humid/hot.

I did contact the chest specialist, but as I was discharged last year, she could not help.

I think every asthmatics case is different, I just wanted an opportunity to keep myself safe. I wanted to ask

what damage has it done over the last 20 years that might effect my lungs ability to fight covid.

All you hear is stay at home, stay safe...

Oh how iv tried!

[Smoggy1990Boggy in reply to Gilsla]

You could also contact your MP as well as the GP. Ultimately the government have f*cked this shielding list up and GP's have had to clear up the mess

[Gilsla in reply to Smoggy1990Boggy]

I whole heartedly agree!

I will be in touch

[Smoggy1990Boggy in reply to Gilsla]

It’s always worth a try and occupational health should be a help too. Everyone with lung problems is at higher risk with Covid 19.

[Gilsla in reply to Smoggy1990Boggy]

Feeling abit ashamed and low after phone appointment. I was told I'm no more at risk from covid as my asthma is controlled.

Told I had anxiety issues and wanted to put me on a anti depressants.

Sorry but, I don't feel I have anxiety issues, I just felt I was at a higher risk of being poorly and I wanted to be heard.

I now know iv tried, I do have to return to work for financial reason.

In my fight to keep safe iv been left feeling like done sort of fraud and that my past asthma history doesn't count.

Keep sake

[Smoggy1990Boggy in reply to Gilsla]

That is so disappointing to hear. Ring Asthma UK nurse’s and see if they can give you any advice regarding keeping safe. It is rather patronising the amount of times people with asthma and other lung problems are told this

[LDloveslattecoffe in reply to Gilsla]

You are not a fraud, advice is changing all the time.

I am on Duoresp Spiramax, Ventolin, Monteleukast and have a cpap machine. I have not been in hospital since Dec 2018 and that was A&E not a stay in and last prednisolone March 2019.

I have not received a shielding to date but on 1/4/20 my GP told me on the phone to shield. When I get infections I get them bad.

At the time the guidance on Asthma UK said even if you hadn't had hospital admissions or regular steroids if you were on high dose inhalers NHS England recommended shielding if you can.

Luckily I work from home anyway as I'm a freelance assessor/IQA and a lot is online.

It seems a lottery with GP's out there.

[Sugar246 in reply to Smoggy1990Boggy]

I think so too.

[Taima]

I am an apprentice. My employer already got me to use up my leave which I used to catch up on coursework I hadn't really been given time to do and then asked me to work on those holiday days including the time off in lieu I got for unpaid overtime in the first place.

My employer just took me to the doctor today where I was a wreck and had an asthma attack to the point of vomiting in front of them. The doctor said I should at least take the rest of the day off. I've now just been asked to go do the short night shift when I've said over and over again that night time is particularly bad for me (I have multiple full blown attacks on a daily basis) and played a recording of me last night with a barking cough, gasping for air and puking. I can't say no because I live on site and owe them for taking me to the doctor, going to the pharmacy with me etc.

Yeah, no shielding for me.

[Smoggy1990Boggy in reply to Taima]

Speak to Asthma UK. Are you in a union? Do you have an occupational health department? Your employer sounds dreadful

[LDloveslattecoffe in reply to Taima]

Taima, I am an Assessor/IQA for courses and used to work with apprentices until the change in Apprenticeships.

The training provider you work for has a duty of care to safeguard you.

Did you advise them of your health issues at the start of the apprenticeship?

Regardless although you are emphasising gratitude to your employer I am concerned about exploitation.

Please see your candidate handbook for guidance and talk to your Assessor

Take care

[Gilsla]

Taima

You need help, this is heart breaking to read in modern times.

What proffession are you working in....

Have you money to get back to a doctor.? Is home far away?

Do you really want to study for a proffession that shows so little care, would things be any different when you are qualified.

First priority, you must get back to a doctor and get your attacks under control.

[Taima in reply to Gilsla]

I am 27 years old. I don’t have a home besides a room here. I have already tried and failed many times to make a living as an artist writer, craftswoman, in media etc. I went to a good private school having been identified as highly gifted. Tried uni twice and came away without my degree because of being hospitalised/in a fatal car crash/domestic violence at home/parents going through a divorce/sexual assault etc and not knowing how to claim extenuating circumstances or get support. I came here because I was homeless and desperate coming from an abusive background, sexual and domestic slavery, and my partner threw me out 2 months after quitting my last job and moving 200 miles for him, partly because of my illness and not berknging in any money. I had also been a victim of fraud and extortion losing my life savings. I have lost 4 flats. I have no family or friends I can stay with. Nothing much would be different after I’m qualified except I could hopefully beg for a minimum wage job. I have needed help my whole life. Social services, charities and other support services have straight up ignored me. After I lost my DLA/was rejected for PIP things got really bad for me. I have never been signed off work to prove I am having difficulties despite breaking down in tears and self harming on the job, being forcibly taken to A and E quite a few times etc. I have multiple health issues besides asthma. But right now due to this Coronavirus crap, it is a difficult situation for employers. I am the one who is a liability and if I don’t do the job I don’t get the accommodation. I work with horses. Long hours and low pay are the norm, as is having to do unsociable hours, weekends, Bank holidays etc with no extra incentive. I love horses. This is one of the few sorts of jobs that comes with accommodation quite commonly and there is no way I could rent and get around on my own. I basically never left the premises even before the lockdown but my employer drove me to the doctor and picked up my prescription, only hat them means I have a hard time saying no after such favours. Letting me go on sick leave and hiring someone else would cost more than twice my wage bill which is not an attractive prospect in these times. I have emailed the National Autistic Society asking for an advocate to help me out. I at least want to have PIP or ESA to top up my low wage, be a safety net if everything goes tits up (again) and help cover the costs of things like sinus irrigators, nasal strips, orthotics, knee and back braces, other medical stuff including perhaps a private consultation but time off will be hard with only one other member of staff and it is HARD doing everything on your own when I’ve been the one left in the lurch, so I feel terrible doing that to someone else.