Work related

[Bathtimebliss]

Hi everyone, I am asthmatic and have been all my life. I take a variety of inhalers, tablets and also use a Acapela device to strengthen my lungs. My query is that I work in a care home and have done this all my working life and now my gp plus consultant are saying it's not good for me with my asthma! Due to the current pandemic I am in panic mode! My mum died recently from the virus whilst in her nursing home and at the moment im on bereavement leave but really don't know whether to go back to work or not. Ive not had a letter from NHS although all my meds and inhalers are on their list. What I'm really asking is what shall I do?

I hope all this makes sense! I would appreciate any suggestions or guidance.

[twinkly29]

If you come under the most recent criteria (steroid inhaler plus another preventer med of some kind and also daily steroids, or 4+ courses between June and Dec last year) then you should have had a letter. But if you haven't received one, can you speak to your GP? Or if you don't "qualify" for one, I'd speak to them anyway as you've already been told (including by them) that your workplace isn't the best place for you. So hopefully they can offer more guidance - or evidence that they've told you not to be there.

I'm really sorry for your loss though, you definitely don't need work/health stress on top of what you're going through.

[Bathtimebliss in reply to twinkly29]

Thankyou for your reply. I had a bad chest infection a couple of years ago and had steroids by the bucket load, but since I've been put on some new medication (montelukast and Carbosisteine) I've thankfully been better and it is more controlled. I spoke to my gp surgery and they said at the end of the day it was still my choice whether I went to work or not. I think im just looking for someone to take that decision out of my hands! I think I will be off a while longer as I have my mum's funeral next week and that's going to knock me for six all over again. Thankfully my sisters and I were with her via video link when she passed.. one small mercy.

[twinkly29 in reply to Bathtimebliss]

I think asthma-wise it won't be taken out of your hands because your steroids were longer ago - but I get that it would be easier to be told!

Please take any time you need after losing your mum, you need to focus on that for now. Maybe once you're ready to go back to work things will have eased up a bit anyway regarding safe working and asthma?

[Poobah]

Your consultant can add you to the shielding group but should have done so by now. That would have protected you employment wise. I'm surprised they verbally told you to shield but not support it by ensuring that you received the shielding letter.

I would talk to your consultant if you can and say that you need their advice not to work in writing. At the very least they should liaise with your GP about signing you off work.

[Bathtimebliss in reply to Poobah]

Thankyou for your reply. As I understand it, your GP has to register you on the gov website so NHS has a notification of your details to send out a letter. Ive only just found this out! I have a phone review with my asthma nurse later so I will bring this up with her. I think ive decided now to stay put until it's all over and as much as I love my job I need to think of MY health and look after no.1.