Worried and need a vent!

stuartJo1989

no.1swimmum wrote: »

So yesterday i was approached by my acting head of department questioning me on why I need to go into hospital for another op so soon - I told him that he didn't even work here when I last went in for my shoulder op, he told me that the head of the school and HR have not authorised my going into hospital, because they are concerned about the exam groups!

Can't really fault you for anything in the larger picture, but this bit caught my eye...

Was there more of a backstory to this, or is this roughly how the conversation panned out? If it panned out like this, don't you think it came across a bit defensive and probably got his back up a bit? After all, he was only querying your upcoming period of absence.

lulu650

OP, it may be that your Head or HR would ask whether it's possible to move this to the school hols over Easter or the summer break. If it isn't, it's worth pointing out that that it's actually two weeks leave from school as you will be starting the programme at the beg. of Feb. half term.

When I needed to go into hospital for an operation, the consultant noted I was a teacher and offered to move it to August if I wished. This suited me better as I wouldn't then feel pressured to go back before I was fully recovered.

I understand you are struggling to get in every day because of pain but are school management aware of how much pain you are in?

another_casualty

Feel sorry for the o p s predicament . The help above is , as usual invaluable and also to the point in fine detail, which can be a little uncomfortable for them to read . All things must be considered , of course .

We can talk from experience and give an opinion based on that , or from others in similar situations .

I can understand why the o p is upset . It seems that they are being taken advantage of to an extent , and that lack of cover / proper management is the main problem here .
Working in schools seems to be different to many jobs in the public body. The rules seem different , with a different mindset. I could be wrong of course , but it’s knowledge that I have from my sisters ( one who is now a relief teacher) and friends girlfriends who work in schools etc.

Having said all of that , n h s appointments have to be taken . If not and you cancel the chances of rebooking can be problematic . If the reason is not serious, your chances of being taken seriously are minimal .

A few years ago , my colleague was absent for over 6 weeks with a knee replacement . In the middle of this, my left eye collapsed and I went to moorfields eye hsp. The condition was misdiagnosed as Bell’s palsy . I ran the dept solo, no complaints . I played down my condition joking about it . Even the top brass were concerned.
6 months later I was told it was myasthenia gravis .
My new boss was the personnel officer. Mismatch or what?!?
So, when I was told to be on standby that a bed could be immediately available ( at st Thomas too ) she was questioning why .
When I put 5he phone down, immediately the hospital asked me to come right away . The boss( personnel ) Was out of her depth .

A couple of months later, I filled the holiday form and she snapped at me for not filling it in properly and telling me “if you want sympathy”..
I was stunned and still very unwell , but I said to myself the next time she is out of order she will be put in her place.
A few weeks later she asked me to change my appointment with the consultant . I snapped . Got final written warning suspended for two years. I initially refused to change appointments . I was very lucky that the hospital told me I’m very good with keeping appointments , and luckily I got appointment changed the following week.
Needless to say , I managed to escape that organisation . Eventually .
Wish I had a Union then .

sangie595

I hope you have a union now???

Manxman_in_exile

sangie595 wrote: »

I had a hip replacement. Since my hip died and crumbled away, leaving me unable too walk, it was kind of critical I had the operation. It was still elective surgery. The OP does not have to have the pain management treatment. They may want it. They may benefit from it. But it is elective. And it can be postponed and cancelled on personal choice. So TECHNICALLY the employer is correct. They can refuse to authorise sick leave. I'm not agreeing that they should - in fact I think it should actually be paid leave, not sick leave. But the OP is not sick. They are no more unable to carry out their work due to sickness than they are at any other time, when they are actually attending work.

What is confusing this is the inpatient status. But that doesn't mean they are sick. If you go to meditation classes you aren't sick. One aspect of this course of treatment is meditation for pain relief! Counselling isn't sickness. That's another aspect of the course. While not wishing to suggest that the OP does not have a seriously debilitating condition, this course is not treatment in the traditional sense of the term. They are not sick. The analogy would be having time off sick for taking the aspirin, but not time off sick for the headache.

I'm surprised that you think this is usually private. Maybe where you are it is. Around this area we have there major NHS hospitals offering it that I know of. Our member had a choice of them.

sangie - I fully understand why elective treatment isn't technically "sickness" but I was responsible for monitoring sickness absence for a NHS trust and I'm fairly certain we considered elective treatment as sick leave. (I may be wrong - it's over five years ago...)


If you think it should be paid leave, should it come out of your annual leave allowance?


I suppose a complicating factor is if your elective treatment results in you being too sick to work while you recover

another_casualty

sangie595 wrote: »

I hope you have a union now???

I haven’t . I won’t say anymore , as this thread is not about me:)