Could extra time be given due to covid delays?

clare1angel

FBaby said:

Just to clarify, was he off sick due to that same condition last August? It seems a long time to get surgery from the time he was off if he was too I'll to work.

He was having problems with vision in left eye as well as having headaches.
OH said this was a health and safety issue so said he was unfit for work.
You're right it took a long time to get the op but that's something we've also been in touch with PALS about and is being investigated.
The hydrocephalus was an acquired condition after getting an infection after surgery

Savvy_Sue

I'd get union support, and especially if what he wants is to push for ill health retirement, then I'd make the argument - with the union's support - that OccHealth will need to be involved in any such discussion, and the first thing they are likely to want to know is "what is the prognosis?" Since there is already an appointment in September, it seems (putting it politely) short-sighted to expect the consultant to give an opinion before that appointment. 

If local union support is difficult to get, contact head office and ask for support there. 

Manxman_in_exile

Savvy_Sue said:

If local union support is difficult to get, contact head office and ask for support there. 

I second that.  I'm one of the people here who always champion union membership (especially in the NHS) but I'd be one of the first to accept that local representation isn't always as good as it could be.  I had a really difficult work problem a few years ago which my local rep wasn't happy dealing with.  Got our Regional Office involved and they got it sorted for me double-quick.

Try contacting the Regional Rep - or tell your husband's local rep that you really feel you need some input from Region because you feel you are being unfairly and unreasonably pressured to make a decision prematurely.  And your husband is being unfairly pressured to make a premature decision.  The more I think about the more I wonder if trust management/HR are not aware of the full picture(?).

clare1angel

Savvy_Sue said:

I'd get union support, and especially if what he wants is to push for ill health retirement, then I'd make the argument - with the union's support - that OccHealth will need to be involved in any such discussion, and the first thing they are likely to want to know is "what is the prognosis?" Since there is already an appointment in September, it seems (putting it politely) short-sighted to expect the consultant to give an opinion before that appointment. 

If local union support is difficult to get, contact head office and ask for support there. 

But does it matter that he isn't a member?

clare1angel

Manxman_in_exile said:

Savvy_Sue said:

If local union support is difficult to get, contact head office and ask for support there. 

I second that.  I'm one of the people here who always champion union membership (especially in the NHS) but I'd be one of the first to accept that local representation isn't always as good as it could be.  I had a really difficult work problem a few years ago which my local rep wasn't happy dealing with.  Got our Regional Office involved and they got it sorted for me double-quick.

Try contacting the Regional Rep - or tell your husband's local rep that you really feel you need some input from Region because you feel you are being unfairly and unreasonably pressured to make a decision prematurely.  And your husband is being unfairly pressured to make a premature decision.  The more I think about the more I wonder if trust management/HR are not aware of the full picture(?).

He has never been a member though so was just assuming he wouldn't getting any help from them.
Management and HR have been regularly updated throughout and made aware of all appointments.
Even when my husband was in hospital and unable to make contact I was keeping them informed.

gwynlas

I am getting confused, yesterday at 2.00pm you wrote that he was a union member and now you are stating that he isn't.
Is occupational health involved?

clare1angel

gwynlas said:

I am getting confused, yesterday at 2.00pm you wrote that he was a union member and now you are stating that he isn't.
Is occupational health involved?

Apologies for the confusion he is not part of a union and I have edited that post - it was supposed to say isn't.
Occupational health were the ones who originally said he was unfit for work back in August 2019 but he hasn't seen them at all this year.

Manxman_in_exile

OK - so he's not in a union - that's a pity.

What sort of work does he do?  If he's not in a union (and doesn't have access to a professional body?) I assume he's non-clinical?

He could try Citizen's Advice or he needs to try to find a local firm of solicitors who offer 30 minutes free legal advice just to indicate to him where he stands.  (Citizen's Advice might have a list of firms that do this).   Or if you live in a university town with a law department you could ask if they provide anything like a free law centre offering advice.  I think you need to find out if what somebody suggested earlier is true - ie that suffering/recovering from cancer qualifies as a disbability in itself which will (or at least let's say "may") make sacking your husband more problematic for the trust.

I hope he's in the NHS pension scheme?  If yes he could try finding out about the possibilities of ill-health retirement.  I'm no expert but I understand it's not easy to qualify as you need to be so ill you can't work at all.  Try looking here:  https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/member-hub/applying-your-pension  (About 1/5th of the way down that page you'll see "+ Ill Health".  Have a look there - but it's very complicated and you really need to be guided by someone who knows what they're doing.)

I'm amazed the trust/HR are going ahead with this if your husband last saw Occupational Health a year go.  Why haven't they referred him more recently?  If I were you or your husband I would not want to be making any decisions here without first seeing my consulatnt AND seeing Occy Health again.  (And asking OH about ill-helath retirement).

AS before, I would be struggling to see any advantage at all in your husband resigning before being sacked.

But see what others here say.  Maybe I'm missing something.