Mobility & Work ?

EycplUK

Just need some advice about work with a disability problem , hope you can help ...........
Short version , working in NHS as domestic and duties split between 2-3 departments , problem arises because of my Emphysemia , on the wards i am ok but when i have to walk distances between wards i have shortage of breath problems , i wanted to use my small mobility scooter between departments but was refused , could this be a breach of the Disability & Work act ? i believe it states that i should be given equal opportunity to work in a safe enviroment with regards to my disability , am i correct ?
I think its called "reasonable changes to your work so that you are not disadvantged "
Not looking for a confrontation but rather a settled compromise , is that a fair way to approach this ?
If this carries on for much longer i may have to resign my post which i am loathe to do as i enjoy my work in the NHS !
All comments and wisdom welcome !
Regards

sarahdd

NHS will always use Health and Safety and will win.

SarEl

The Disability Discrimination Act was repealed in 2010 and replaced by the Equality Act, and it does not state that you "should be given equal opportunity to work in a safe enviroment with regards to {your} disability" - it says that the employer ought to consider what might be reasonable adjustments. What that means is that you cannot simply have what you want - your request or the adjustment required must be within reasonable grounds, and in the end the only arbiter of what is reasonable and what is not will be a tribunal. I can, however, envisage at least the potential for valid reasons to object to a motorised scooter being used within the bounds of a hospital. Have you asked the employer why they have refused to allow it? Because that would be the first step in trying to find any possible resolution.

EycplUK

Only reason given was "insurance costs " i thought that public liability would have covered that ?
Have a Access to Work interview next week and will see where that goes !
Regards

Bigmoney2

Would a wheel chair be more acceptable?

I also think there are 2 types of mobility scooter, some can be used on pavements and others only allowed on roads. Maybe a different type of powered scooter would be more appropriate.

SarEl

EycplUK wrote: »

Only reason given was "insurance costs " i thought that public liability would have covered that ?
Have a Access to Work interview next week and will see where that goes !
Regards

Public liability insurance does not cover them for absolutely any thing that could happen - like a member of staff hitting someone with their motorised scooter whilst zipping between wards!

Savvy_Sue

Is there a patient transport facility between wards, and could you make use of that? The larger hospitals I've been to have had a mahoosive golf buggy type thing which you can get a lift on if you're not so mobile but not in a wheelchair.

SarEl

Good idea, but I suspect that this situation involves "cans" and "worms". In HR's position I might be wondering how someone can capably do their job if they are not fit enough to walk between departments. Being a domestic isn't light or easy work.

shazzaaa

Speak to your occupational health dept, you can self refer, not just get a management referral. They, along with access to work can organise reasonable adjustments. Perhaps being based in one ward for whole shift, or allowing decent time for you to travel between locations.
Don,t just listen to your manager, their experience of disability regulations is usually limited. are you in a union?

heretolearn_2

I hate to say it, but my thoughts were the same as Sar-El's. I too would be wondering how well you would be cleaning if you get breathless walking a short distance. Cleaning is hard, physical work if done properly, and in a hospital environment it has to be done thoroughly. There's a world of difference between gently wiping a mop over a floor a few times, making it damp but leaving loads of dirt behind, and using that mop to really scrub it clean.

this may be a 'nice' way for them to remove you from a post where you can't perform adequately.

getmore4less

heretolearn wrote: »

Cleaning is hard, physical work if done properly, and in a hospital environment it has to be done thoroughly. There's a world of difference between gently wiping a mop over a floor a few times, making it damp but leaving loads of dirt behind, and using that mop to really scrub it clean.

When was the last time you were in a hospital?

Cleaning wards these days is not hard work.

A deep clean is a it harder but even those are not that hard.