Return to work (covid-19 age)

[Gayle-]

Hi hope you all are ok and safe, just wondering if anyone out there has had this situation......

I have been shielding as per government advice but now work want me back (I am a bus driver). The only problem is I don’t think it’s safe as how do I keep my distance and help wheelchair users on? Or keep windows open if it’s raining,I have put lots of questions to my manager,and now they have given me a questionnaire to find out my covid age.(sort of risk assessment) but surely if I was clinically extremely vulnerable (high risk of being very ill) during lockdown then my risk of covid 19 now is still high,they know I had a gov. Letter. So are they just ticking boxes or been a very nasty company?

Any advice welcome

Gayle

[bubblyalex]

I am not a lot of use but perhaps talking to your union for advice would be a good idea? The employer has to show it is covid secure I believe.

Good luck.

[Gayle- in reply to bubblyalex]

Thanks for the reply I have been in touch with union, but I don’t hold much hope, as a few years ago my last manager was trying to get rid of me as I was off work with a damaged shoulder (hurt at work) and I was trying to explain disability/equality act and union rep just sat there not saying anything, so I wouldn’t hold my breath!!!

Gayle

[bubblyalex in reply to Gayle-]

Oh not great. Try contacting the NRAS?

[Hidden]

Unfortunately there is a lot of us around. I work with primary school children. There will be no distancing or ppe now they are all going back in September. I too was shielding . I can’t get my head around it all. I can’t get any f2f medical treatment even physio as it is too dangerous

but I can go to the pub and return to work etc. It is unprecedented times and we have been forgotten about. As shielders we are told to take precautions and limit exposure... neigh impossible when we return to work. Sorry I too don’t know what to do

[bubblyalex in reply to Hidden]

Do you know if you’re going to be going back to work in Sept?

[Hidden in reply to bubblyalex]

Still debating. I want too but I have no trust in the information given by the government. Contradictory is an understatement. It’s safe to work with children they don’t pass it on ... beg to differ. My friends son is 5 he went back to school in July his grandparents looked after him after school they caught Covid thankfully not bad it could only have been from their grandson they have not had any contact with anyone else even their daughter. Now this morning an announcement about children not using public transport. All this doesn’t fill me confidence.

[bubblyalex in reply to Hidden]

I wouldn’t even try and trust the government at all with this decision. It’s the docs around you that will know better and the gov has given this caveat to themselves. ‘... return to work if covid safe...’ So really down to the employers being able to say ... in writing to you ... you will be covid safe here. I honestly don’t think this can be put in writing for you or almost all shielders by the employers. Their insurance policies would have a field day. This with the advice from your docs is what is vital.

My rheumy’s latest feedback ... the risk of catching it has reduced however if you (I) catch it the consequences are still the same 😔

It is worth remembering that the Gov is only making advisory statements. It is all political not medical.

[Hidden]

Hi Gayle they should also be doing risk assessments for you based on your illness which I know have been done for me At my place of work hence still in furlough. They have to show PPE will protect you and due diligence.. Also can your GP confirm Either ok to work or not?

[bubblyalex in reply to Hidden]

Getting GP/Rheumy involved is essential I would think.

[helixhelix]

At the beginning, when decisions were taken about shielding and so on, very little was known about how the disease affects different people. And they rushed out guidance in a very confusing way.

These days there is more known about who is at very high risk of having serious consequences if they catch covid. And it seems that having and auto-immune disease is much less of a risk than being obese for example. So guidance has changed, and risks have been lowered for many people. This is from an interview with a senior Rheumatologist from the John Hopkins Institute:

“Even though large data sets suggest an overall increased risk in patients with autoimmune disease, the initial concern that all of our patients may have severe outcomes may not be true. The overall risk for patients with rheumatic disease seems much lower than that seen for other chronically immunocompromised patients such as the transplant population. The increased risks we are now seeing may be primarily driven by comorbidities, age, and sex rather than the underlying rheumatic disease or immunosuppression, but the jury is still out on that. “

And this is the assessment process that they will be using with you.

alama.org.uk/covid-19-medic...

And you need to make sure they take account of your RA and add on 2 years for having the disease, and another 6 if you are on immune suppressing drugs, here:

alama.org.uk/covid-19-medic...

[bubblyalex]

Fantastic links and advice. 👍🏻

[Gayle-]

Hi thanks for all your reply’s, I feel better now after reading your comments, will just have to hope that they do everything they can to keep me safe. If not will contact gp

Thanks again keep safe and well

Gayle

[Summerrain14]

I would hope that your company will do individual risk assessments. It would be good to get some advice from your GP and rheumy team too if possible as they know your individual health needs. x

[wishbone in reply to Summerrain14]

Absolutely agree about getting advice from GP and rheumy. If the John Hopkins risk assessment guidelines are optional and have not replaced current government guidelines, which from what I've heard are open to interpretation of the employer, then therein lies my concern.