Experience with reasonable adjustments and asthma?

[Melanie1989]

Hey everyone,So I'm currently training to be a student nurse, and when I started my course occupational health suggested adjustments in their report.

This included that whilst on placement I should be close to home with limited commuting, not rural and close to an A n E department.

My university have placed me 30-40 minutes away in a rural location, 30 minutes away from an A n E...

Not being near an A n E department doesn't worry me but the travel does, as I get very easily rundown and tired which worsens my asthma. I also worry about my asthma getting worse and having to drive that long home.. I do travel for uni, but that's only 2 days a week and no where near as taxing as a 12.5 hour shift!

It is really frustrating as they have placed others in my local area but have chose to send me miles away.. I am meeting with my course director tomorrow, but was wondering if they have to adhere to my adjustments..

I am so worried my asthma is going to cost me my degree 😔

[Homely2 Administrator]

As as asthma sufferer, being 30 minutes away from a and e would worry me significantly. As it seems to have worried occupational health.

I would concentrate on this as much as possible.

I would take a written statement with you to see the course director, setting out the issue.

Maybe start with a title like, my asthma disability.

Then summarising occupational health suggestions as to how to mitigate the risks to you and the university.

Then set out your concern, that the university have ignored your disability in placing you in a rural location.

Finally, ask why they are not prepared to accept the occupational report.

But do all this in writing, and give the director a copy at the start of the meeting, then ask if you can take notes during the meeting, just so that you are clear

Can somebody from students union advise or accompany you.

As to whether they have to do something, they will have trouble ignoring it if you write it down. What would happen to them if you had a severe asthma attack and did not get to hospital.

Also if your asthma is severe it may fit the definition of a formal disability.

[Melanie1989 in reply to Homely2]

Thanks for the advice! Luckily occupational health have included in the report that they consider my asthma a disability. I'm going to take notes with me as well so I don't forget anything.

I will make sure the outcome of the meeting is put into writing as well

[Homely2 Administrator in reply to Melanie1989]

Remember, that asthma sufferers are really happy when we get a nurse in hospital, who gets asthma.I have just been looked after by an asthma nurse who had asthma, it was so helpful, because she understood me.

If the university will not make reasonable adjustments to help student nurses with asthma, they deprive the NHS of a really valuable resource.

[Poobah]

Reasonable adjustments in this case are deliverable, in that there are suitable placement locations that meet your occupational health recommendations, and therefore I would say the university has acted in an unreasonable way and overlooked the protection afforded you by the Equality Act 2010.

Always best to approach these matters as soon as possible, as you're doing, and in a matter of fact way. Keep a cool head and explain that your placement isn't in line with your occupational health recommendations and that could affect your disability (definitely use this word) and so it's putting you at an unfair disadvantage. Say you'd appreciate their continued support by making a reasonable adjustment of a more considered placement.

If the director wants a detailed explanation, say that you gave all the details of your disability to the occupational health practitioner and the recommendations are based on that information. I'd be surprised if they hadn't had to deal with reasonable adjustments before so will have a working knowledge of how things should work and the legal consequences if recommendations are ignored (discrimination under the Equality Act 2010).

If, for some odd reason, they decline to consider your request, ask for the reasons to be put in writing to you. Basically, you're making them commit themselves to their decision so they have to take legal responsibility. This may make them reconsider any reluctance to help. They can check by talking with the practitioner who made the recommendations, if necessary.

Keep us posted on you get on.

[Melanie1989]

Thanks for the advice! I definitely need to try and stay calm and logical, I was just so surprised they have acted in this way. They are well aware of the severity of my asthma.

Occupational health have noted that my asthma should fall under the equality act, and I attached my reports in emails to give them a reminder!

I will make sure everything is in writing and fingers crossed they don't make it difficult!

[Poobah in reply to Melanie1989]

Let's hope it's just an oversight or an administrative error. Good luck!

[Eian59]

yes they have to follow oc healths report, I had that problem and they sent me to oc health and when the report came back they had to make reasonable adjustments to my work. Good luck and I hope all goes well for you.

[Whiteclouds]

I hope you get an understanding OC practioner I wasn’t so lucky and had to take my case further my Gp wrote a letter addressing my health issues and disabilities this helped with my assessment and I was allowed to work from home otherwise it would have involved 4.5 hours travel a day with chronic asthma copd and bronchectasis . On top of this I have other health issues. I’m now retired and no longer have these worries . I hope you get you work life situation sorted that suits your health. Good luck.

[Melanie1989]

Thanks for all of your advice! I have spoken to the course director, who has said they will try and move me.. However only if there is space as they have allocated everyone's placement..

If there isn't space, I will have to take a study break as they have to adhere to the adjustments... 😩

[Poobah in reply to Melanie1989]

Doing the least possible to meet the recommendations, very disappointing as it still puts you at a disadvantage by doing very little to give you an appropriate placement. I wonder if the course director was trying it on and hoped you would just accept your assigned placement? Is there a student and resolution team you could have an informal chat with, just to see where a complaint would take you if the uni fails to find you a suitable placement? I know many hate to complain about anything, but this is important to you in terms of your degree success. The need to resolve the issue now rather than later makes it easier to find a placement at this stage.

[Melanie1989 in reply to Poobah]

If they cannot accommodate me, then there is a complaint process I can follow. It is frustrating that there were appropriate placements, they just chose not to allocate it to me.

Thanks for all the advice and fingers crossed I don't have to escalate!

[Poobah in reply to Melanie1989]

🤞🤞🤞

[Birthday60]

how annoying but what are your plans after qualifying- even part time nursing can be exhausting and not always available on your doorstep . Being 30 mins from an A&E in a tidal setting seems reasonable

[Melanie1989 in reply to Birthday60]

Once qualifying however, I can choose a job to suit my needs. Not all nursing is running around and strenuous, there are jobs in clinics, outpatients, health visiting etc.. The occupational health dr deemed it necessary for me to be close to A n E due to how quickly I decline. I currently live within 5 minutes walk to my local trust, and am looking to start part-time to negate any risk.

[Birthday60]

Great that you are being supported and can consider all options

[ccccc]

Not a massive surprise as I worked at a university (with a large nursing department) and they refused to make reasonable adjustments for my asthma. You would think "educated" people would be more enlightened but not always. Hope you get what you need from them.