Off work after emergency surgery

welshgirl_michelle

I work in the Hospital as a Health Care Assistant and i'm currently off sick as I had emergency surgery 2 weeks ago due to Appendicitis. My doctor has given me 4 weeks off work to recover fully. It's quite a heavy ward where I work & want things to be fully healed before I return. My first sickness in 2 years.

When I took my sick note into the ward Sister last week, she shouted at me because the doctor had given me 4 week. She demanded to know why & before I could explain myself, she phoned the ward I had surgery on to see how long I should have off!! Then the Sister from another ward came in & she decided to share my story with her, how i'd just had surgery, and the doctor had given me 4 weeks off to recover, and how i should only have 2 weeks off etc.

I'm slowly recovering, anaesthetic always knocks me for six, i'm still healing as i'm still sore and restricted to what I can lift due to pain. I had key hole surgery.

I left work gobsmacked with how she reacted & treated me, it was done in front of other staff, talk about confidentiality!!!!

Any advice?

anamenottaken

welshgirl_michelle wrote: »

I work in the Hospital as a Health Care Assistant and i'm currently off sick as I had emergency surgery 2 weeks ago due to Appendicitis. My doctor has given me 4 weeks off work to recover fully. It's quite a heavy ward where I work & want things to be fully healed before I return. My first sickness in 2 years.

When I took my sick note into the ward Sister last week, she shouted at me because the doctor had given me 4 week. She demanded to know why & before I could explain myself, she phoned the ward I had surgery on to see how long I should have off!! Then the Sister from another ward came in & she decided to share my story with her, how i'd just had surgery, and the doctor had given me 4 weeks off to recover, and how i should only have 2 weeks off etc.

I'm slowly recovering, anaesthetic always knocks me for six, i'm still healing as i'm still sore and restricted to what I can lift due to pain. I had key hole surgery.

I left work gobsmacked with how she reacted & treated me, it was done in front of other staff, talk about confidentiality!!!!

Any advice?

If it had been me I would tell the ward sister that I would like an apology for her behaviour. If none were forthcoming I would raise a grievance. That is not advice, just what I would do.

Valli

and consult your union - at least so that, at this point, they are aware that you have been spoken to in an innappropriate manner and in front of other colleagues.

It is not for her to question your Doctor's decision in this (or any other, actually!) manner. You have a Doctor's Note; that should suffice!

JournalGirl

I think I was off for two weeks after my keyhole appendix removal, but I do a desk job. Remembering how I felt, if I did heavy work, four weeks is probably reasonable.

BUT it was your doctor's decision, not yours, so they have no right to kick off at you for this.

welshgirl_michelle

JournalGirl wrote: »

I think I was off for two weeks after my keyhole appendix removal, but I do a desk job. Remembering how I felt, if I did heavy work, four weeks is probably reasonable.

BUT it was your doctor's decision, not yours, so they have no right to kick off at you for this.

She kicked off at me & said if i was to take the 4 weeks, then she would want an explanation from the doctor as to why he's given me 4 weeks!! I might not need to take the full 4 weeks, i'm hoping I will be ok to go back to work next week (would mean then that i've had 3 weeks off). Thing is, I don't want to go back early, as I want things to heal, and I don't want to do damage and have to be off again.

ValHaller

welshgirl_michelle wrote: »

She kicked off at me & said if i was to take the 4 weeks, then she would want an explanation from the doctor as to why he's given me 4 weeks!! I might not need to take the full 4 weeks, i'm hoping I will be ok to go back to work next week (would mean then that i've had 3 weeks off). Thing is, I don't want to go back early, as I want things to heal, and I don't want to do damage and have to be off again.

In your position, I would see if the doctor was prepared to give another 2 weeks. Definitely don't rush it. For another ward sister who was reasonable you might feel confident that if you went back and found you needed more time, you would not get grief. But this one should be made to wait until you are absolutely sure.

liney

If this was me I would speak speak to HR and make them aware of her manner towards you, her lack of confidentiality and her lack of professionism regarding your doctor.

I would also say that feel 'pressured' to return to work against the advice of your GP. I would state that the 'stress' of the situation is surely not helping your recovery and that having to deal with her outbursts is making you feel 'anxious.'

Those three words are very likely to ensure that HR speak with her regarding Bullying and Harassment.

Alternatively you just ignore her, go back after 4 weeks. If she contacts you regarding your Doctor tell her she will need to speak to HR to gain authorisation, and if they contact you, you will liase with them.
This will involve her bringing her attitude to their attention, which I doubt she will want to.

philip1988

By returing early this could become a H&S issue as you wouldn't be covered by your employers insurance if something should happen to you.

As already said speak with HR

welshgirl_michelle

Thank you all. I know i need to speak to HR. I'm just worried that it will affect me when I go back to work. I know i'm not going 2 have it easy when I go back to work.

philip1988

That is why it is important that you speak to HR and explain to them about the Sister's attitude.

If you have any problems with the Sister when you return keep a written record of what is said (either to you or other staff) so that you have the evidence should you feel a need to raise a formal grievance in the future.

AP007

Maybe the OP should have just sent or took the sick note to the HR team and not the sister as they have nothing to do with staffing and sick leave surely.