Disabled or not!

[Llinos]

I have just been advised of a formal warning in work due to Sick time (2 days) after my Rituximab infusions. Joy of working in the NHS!!. Are we classed as disabled having GPA?

I have blue badges and have been classed as disabled with my local council and have a Hearing social worker.

Can anyone answer this query?

[Hidden]

You should be covered under the Disability Discrimination Act which means that your employers should make " reasonable adjustments ".

Have you seen anyone from Occ Health as they are usually very good and supportive.

[Llinos in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for answering, I haven't seen Occ health for over a year now. They discharged me after Rituximab 3&4. I will be re-referred after my meeting this week and I'll check put the DDA too

[Footygirl]

Just want to support you and to 😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡 for you. All the same eh? Inside or outside NHS!

Digusted of Hemel Hempstead ha ha

⚽️

[AmyS1]

I also work for the NHS and their treatment of staff who are ill iis poor. I am also worried about my work. Try and get your union involved.

[Greenkit]

All i can add is don't go to these "Formal Meetings" on your own always have someone with you to take notes and to ask for breaks as often as you need when they see you getting stressed. This meeting could go on for weeks LOL!!!!

Good luck XX

[Surfingmummy]

The legal definition of a disability is any long term health condition that that has a substantial effects your ability to carry out day to day tasks. (i.e. a condition which the medical profession treat as a chronic sickness). But you are only covered my the European disability act of 2010 if your employer knows about your condition. I'd have a have a chat with Citizen Advice Bureau, and Disability Rights Website is good too. Good luck!

[Sima1952]

I used to work for the NHS as well, that was 26yrs ago when due to bulling by a senior member of staff, resulted in me having a Nervous Breakdown; and l'm still suffering today

Whatever you do, if you are in a Union please, please, please, take your Union Rep. - if you're in a Union, that is - or a friend who'll take notes for you,because if you come up against the sort of person l did, then you may forget vital things that they say, which could have a knock on effect later. Best wishes Sally

[Janey513]

Make sure you go into meetings prepared. I'm so lucky that my current trust (yes NHS are amazing) I was honest about it from the start and am managed outside the sickness policy. Apparently this is possible if your manager agrees there are no performance issues.

However my previous trust where I was a patient on my own ward due to the airway related issues where horrendous. It was only when our clinical lead stepped in to say that he felt as his team were struggling to manage my care effectively within their knowledge it was unfair to penalise me for it. I still had to have 6 weekly meetings and agree with taking a union rep they pick things up that you might miss.

Know your own sickness record back to front, where that fits with treatment and the progress you have made also what sets you back. Again as always you probable have more knowledge than they do so maybe take some information in with you asking them to read it as you think it would help them to understand your position.

Be wary of being offered a career break to give you chance to recover - it sounds great and supportive. In reality it would leave you in limbo as leaving a job makes it difficult to claim benefits as it was your choice.

Good luck with it all and it is a battle that can be won.