Passing out at work 6th February 2024

[Gaz22]

I have had to have a occupational health telephone appointment on the 9th April now I have been told due to me passing out and been unconscious and arms and legs shaking I now have to work from 7.30 am till 2 pm four days a week till I retire in just over a year's time, That's if I don't have anymore episodes of passing out your other medical problems, Feeling a bit down I have worked for them 23 years, Only getting paid for the hours I work can't even do any overtime

[Tos92]

Hi Gaz,

Sorry to hear you’re feeling upset about the decision from occupational health. It is also their responsibility to ensure that you are working as safely as possible with your health conditions and perhaps keeping your work schedule as it is will cause you more harm rather than any good long term, especially considering you have already had a few episodes of being unwell at work.

As your hours have been reduced, you may want to look at PIP (personal independence payment) for some extra support despite still being at work. This may help provide some financial support for you considering you will now be working less due to your health. I have attached the link below for you to read into it further.

benefitsandwork.co.uk/perso...

All the best.

Tos

[Gaz22 in reply to Tos92]

Thank you for your reply, I will look into the PIP, Thanks Tos92 , I have only a year to go before I retire

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hello,

I had to take early ill health retirement, I acknowledge how disheartening it can feel to have to stop working before you would like to do so.

I tried to stay at work with reduced hours in a less stressful environment, however I kept being admitted to hospital whilst at work. In the end Occupational Health advised me that I should take early ill health retirement.

It was the right decision for me even though I was sad to have to leave my much loved profession. My health is more important.

I successfully applied for a PIP on my first attempt. I was given an enhanced award for both sections indefinitely.

No mean feat as many people are refused at first, need to ask for a mandatory review and then appeal to succeed.

If you do decide to apply for a PIP, I suggest you get help. It's not straightforward. You'll need to fill the form in using the correct words to describe how your health condition affects your daily life.

Gather together all the supporting documents such clinic letters, test results and discharge summaries.

The whole process can be stressful, applying for my ill health retirement was far easier.

During my face to face interview at home, I had a severe episode of coronary vasospasms causing angina and the interview had to be stopped.

I was admitted to hospital soon afterwards.

I always post a link to the organisation that I used.

You have to pay a fee to access the full information from the Benefits and Work website, however there are free services available such as Citizens Advice and Turn2us.

citizensadvice.org.uk/benef...

benefits-calculator.turn2us...

benefitsandwork.co.uk/perso...

[Gaz22 in reply to Milkfairy]

Thanks Milkfairy ,I have been in touch with citizens advice and they said I might be able to claim PIP have been on the turn2 us site had a look at the questions I would have scored 0 . I am able to do things like get dressed etc I get out of breath move in heavy things about at work or home I have to have a rest after, Thanks for your advice I will have another look, Also occupational health said I will have to inform DVLA about me passing out and going unconscious at work

[fishonabike in reply to Gaz22]

when answering the questions you need to think about whether you can carry out the activity regularly, repeatedly, reliably and safely every time - if the answer is no for any of those 5 points then the answer to the question is no - then you explain what goes wrong eg pain, fatigue, shakes etc in the space provided - for example you if get out of breath moving heavy things, or try to move a lighter thing repeatedly

the info package from Benefits and Work is really helpful, as mentioned by Milkfairy

[Qualipop in reply to Gaz22]

Have a good look at Benefits and work; far far better than Citizens advice. The small fee is well worth it.. I've had PIP ( Previously DLA) for many years and have had to go through 6 tribunals. The only one I lost was when I had help from Citizens advice.

[Wooodsie]

Hi Gaz, I agree with the others about PIP etc. get some help as it isn't easy. For example you would score full marks if you were passed out, so answering the questions depends completely on the circumstances at the time. My daughter is diabetic and lives alone, copes completely, but she goes into hypos without notice and so she is entitled to full PIP, but we had to appeal as she was refused first time around.

The other thing, is to ask your occupational health on what grounds and with what medical advice and expertise they made their recommendation. Ask if they considered early retirement due to ill health. Unless they can justify their decision, you can challenge it. And ask your Dr if you should inform DVLA before you get in touch with them, it has to be based on medical reasons.

[Bingo88]

Good morning Gaz22. Sorry to hear about your health problems and passing out. And obviously your reduced hours are going to make things harder for you. Another option is if you have a personal pension fund. Because we have only just started a new tax year. You would be able to take out your 25% tax free from your pot of money and also take out almost all of your years tax free earnings from your pot as well. Which would bring the pot down. Because now your old age pension on a yearly basis is upto your tax free allowance. So everything you take from your fund once retired you will pay tax on. Hope this is another option for you. If I can help anymore just send me a message. Brian

[Lowerfield_no_more]

Other than your occupational health appointment, you haven't mentioned whether you are taking steps to seek health professional input to find out why you have passed out (e.g by a discussion with your GP)? Falling unconscious is a sign that something is not right, and all the occupational health people will be interested in, as far as I under stand it, is to make sure you are fit to work without putting yourself and your employer at risk. But by finding out what is causing you to become unconscious may mean your condition can be treated and you can return to your normal working life.

[Tos92 in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

You might have missed this post:

healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...

[Lowerfield_no_more in reply to Tos92]

OK thanks.It would have been useful if the OP has mentioned that he was already under investigation.

[Gaz22 in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

I have had a cardiology appointment on the 8 th April with cardiologist they just said I need a 48 hour ECG monitor ( been waiting for a 72 hour ECG monitor test from September 2023 from GP referral) and are doing a sleep apnea test aswell, My GP said can't do anything till they get the cardiology report my GP said it might be a long wait

[MWIC]

Do you have a medical diagnosis Gaz - appalling if this has just happened once and that’s the reaction if without them understanding what your medical condition is - also bloody awful you’re having to lose money as a result of their decision- totally understand that they should be considering your health but needs to be based on medical facts not just a response to something happening (possibly once). Wishing you the best, hope you’re health goes in the right direction and all works out - Seriously unimpressed with the way people reaching a certain age are treated in this country both by the companies worked for and by the treatment available when things take a downward turn

[Gaz22 in reply to MWIC]

Thanks for replying, I have just read the report from occupational health and it says on it my GP have requested me to do light duties and reduce my hours which is not true, Doctor gave me a sick note for 4 weeks after I passed out at work and I got a sick note for 4 weeks working 7.30am till 2 pm and after my sick note ran out on 8th April doctor was happy for me to go back on 7.30 am till 4.30pm four days a week And since I have been put on isosorbide mononitrate in November I have been feeling better. I have rejected the report due to reasons above, I have been waiting for a 72 hour ECG monitor since September 2023

[MWIC in reply to Gaz22]

Sounds to me like the company you work for has jumped the gun Gaz and adapting the facts to suit their own needs not yours - shitty behaviour - hope you’re able to challenge that and maybe worth getting your Doc onside to clarify the medical situation to your employer - if they continue after that they’ve no grounds for it and risk being sued which more often than not is enough to get things back on the right footing

[Gaz22 in reply to MWIC]

Thanks for your reply, I will see what occupational health says now, I think I will go to GP and ask them if they think I am medically fit to work from 7.30 am till 4.30 pm 4 days a week or till 4 pm and get a letter from them even if it's a trail for a month or two to see how I get on

[trafar]

I agree that it’s your GP that ultimately make the decision not occupational health. If you feel well enough due to the medication then speak to your GP, a lot of occupational health staff is they are not experts on the condition they are advising on.