I put on here a few weeks ago that I had an Occupational Heath Appointment last week. I received the report yesterday (and again today after some amendments), and one of the things she's put on there, is in the workplace I now have to be considered Disabled, and covered by the Disabled Persons Equality Act as I have a lifelong condition that impacts upon my day to day living.
Can I ask, if anyone else has been registered disabled due to their PA? I have no issues with disability per se (my mother was a special needs teacher for 20 years so I'm more comfortable with people with disabilities than not it seems), so that doesn't bother me, but I don't really know how it will impact everything else, work, life, home etc. and what I can do to help myself.
My boss will receive the report on Monday I think and then it's up to them whether they aid me by letting me go part time to if they stop my probation now and get rid of me (although I think the equality act may cover me there). It's all just become so overwhelming. Just over 2 months ago, I had no diagnosis and no treatment and no disability. I was just a bit unwell. Since November, I've been diagnosed, had 2 treatments, had Occupational Health, and now have a disability. As you can imagine it's all getting a little too much now.
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Moosey
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I understand how you feel. 7 years ago I had 3 jobs, drove and was completely different. Now I no longer work and recieve ESA. I cannot get out of a bath with out the aid of an electric chair, struggle with stairs and preforming even basic tasks some days. I would not wish this condition on anyone.
This is because a former GP decided to with hold my b12 injections for 3 years stating that "I no longer needed them". I was so ill that when I was admitted to my local hospital I was told that I was about 48 hours away from death!! I'm much better now but have been left with nerve damage in my hands,lower legs and feet. This means that I can no longer drive and have been given a disabled bus pass and registered "vunerable" by my local council.
Ask your local council for as much help and support that you can get!! I now even get my waste and recycling delt with and a reduction in council tax.
Thanks Penni So sorry to hear how you've been affected. I know I'm only in the early days but so far my GP has said that if I feel I need more injections, then I can have them. Got one more to have and then I've got to have some more blood tests to see if the initial loading dose has done enough. Then who knows. My issue is, unless you suffer from the condition, no-one seems to understand how bad it is and assume it's just a bit of anaemia and it's something you can control and get over. But i'll do some investigating to see if there's any help i can get now. Thanks x
I doubt that there is any point in having a B12 blood test, it will be well over the top after your loading jabs. That's how I was robbed of mine 9 years ago. Loading doses , blood test, ok you're fine now, no further treatment needed.
Hi Moosey. Hmm...this sounds very suspicious and worrying to me.
Was this done by an occupational health practitioner...or an occupational doctor...also - thinking about the semantics...
Are you being advised that in the workplace you have to be considered as having a disability and therefore be covered by the workplace protections outlined by the Disability Act. Which might be quite a different thing than saying you are disabled?
Really don't know much about this so just a couple of things I've been able to find out quickly:
PA is not listed as a disabling condition by the disabilitybenefitscentre.org (whether it does disable or not might be a different matter 😖). They say that 'for those with PA mild symptoms are not enough to prevent individuals working in any job'.
Social Security Book Blue Listing 11.16 states that, in terms of PA and any potential disability, impairment must exist in at least two extremities and be sever enough to induce difficulty with walking and moving arms. Importantly, that there is no significant improvement despite treatment...after at least one year.
So...can't really answer your question but it seems to me that you are early in the treatment process, that improvement can be expected and certainly can't be rule out.
And more importantly for you and your long term plans / prospects...I don't think that your occupational health department can simply declare you disabled. So perhaps what they're talking about is how your condition should be considered in terms of the Workplace Disability Act. And how this will impact on you depends entirely on how your employer decides to approach the issue (hopefully with support and adjustments to help you).
The Workplace Disability Act uses the term 'reasonable adjustments': this does give some employers what I suspect may be too much 'wriggle room'...just hope that your employer manages to wriggle in the right direction 😄.
And of course, you should be afforded the opportunity for review at regular ongoing intervals...
And have they taken into account the fact that in several months from now, you might be fully restored to health (some people are - but we tend not to see them here because they're happily getting on with the business of doing a healthful life).
Oh...and...having seen one of your replies below...if symptoms aren't resolving or are returning before your next injection, do take your GP up on his offer of more frequent injections...😄.
Sorry can't be more specific..think this is something I need to research further...perhaps someone with just the right knowledge will pop along...😄
Occupational health have not said that you are registered disabled - they have just pointed out that under current legislation on disability you have a long term condition that can affect your ability to do your job. As such this puts you in a protected category in relation to discrimination and actually makes it more difficult for them to just dismiss you.
As you have a protected characteristic they are obliged to undertake reasonable adjustments to enable you to work. This doesn't give you absolute protection as definition of reasonable adjustments does recognise the need to balance the cost of adjustments and the impact on business requirements, but it does mean that if your employer choses to dismiss you they have to demonstrate that they were not in a position to make the adjustments necessary to allow you to continue to work.
So, although the phrasing has obviously worried you it is actually a good thing that OH have highlighted the condition and are pointing out to your employer that they have specific obligations to you.
I think you're mixing up different things, it's understandable if you don't have much experience of disability.
being registered disabled, being disabled under the equalities act, and being disabled for benefits purposes are different things.
you wouldn't be registered disabled for PA, the only things you get registered for are visually impaired or deaf. (you are in the UK right?) nhs.uk/chq/pages/2571.aspx
but being disabled under the equalities act you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/20... this covers a wide range of conditions.
for benefits you would have to fit ESA or PIP criteria (but I won't go into it as you haven't asked about benefits)
these things don't always overlap e.g. I'm registered visually impaired, am covered by the equalities act but don't fit ESA or PIP criteria, so no benefits.
it's sill early in your treatment, you may well improve and get by well with treatment.
maybe read up on the equalities act, that way you can be sure that your employer is doing everything that are supposed to. in some ways your lucky that your employer considers PA to be covered by this act, as it means that you can may be able to get help and support to remain in your job.
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