If you work for the NHS what phased return do you have?

[EachandEveryone]

I’m a nurse 12 hour shifts HDU which involves running and carrying emergency bags. Full hysterectomy four months ago with a vertical cut (my gp says this is more fragile). My OH have been useless not ringing me when they’d made appointments to. However they are calling me today and I’m due back tomorrow. Work have put me on earlies for the next two weeks. Then full shifts. I’m sure I’ve seen people come back on 6 hours before and some have never gone back to nights. My gp said I shouldn’t do nights for six months when I asked why she said because you are recovering/menopausal and we still haven’t got to the bottom of all your joint pain. My thyroid is still not controlled properly.

I don’t think OH go for this. If I say I don’t want to do nights for awhile do you think this is ok? The truth is after 30 years I bloody hate them but I know they are part of my job description. What happens at your place?

I don't see the difference of working days or nights surely it's still the same work.

My DSil was off for 6 months after a car crash. She worked half shifts for 8 weeks then was expected to work full shifts.

DP went back after 6 months mh issues with two weeks on half days.

He's not clinical staff, though.

Sleeping during the day? Taking an hour at least to get home then going to bed? It was different when I was younger sleep came very easily.

My trust is quite generous with phased return but it’s still expected to be complete within 6 weeks and the hours increase each week. I suppose the idea is if you’re not fit to be back to your usual hours by week 6 you should still be off sick.

Oh I’m expecting to be back full time within a month. It’s just I’m annoyed with work really first they said I was to go to a different hospital where the work load is much lighter and that was a lot to get my head around going to a new place but it is very close to home. Then yesterday my boss text me not even a phone call to say I’m to go back to my normal place obviously (to me) because it very busy and they need me.

There seem to be a few different issues here (to a non-OH person like me at least)...
the work load is the same on nights and days so if you're physically able to do a full day shift the nights shouldn't be a problem. Presumably the commute is the same whether you're working a day or night shift? The sleeping during the day issue is a pretty common problem, particularly as you get older (which is why I'm up and typing and not currently sleeping!).

If your GP is saying don't do nights because you're being investigated for a different medical problem then that is clearly reasonable (but not part of the 'recovering from surgery process') - presumably you've told OH that new information (the onus is not just on them to make contact, but if you have new information to tell them you have some responsibility)?

If every menopausal woman stopped doing nights while they had menopausal symptoms the NHS would literally have to close overnight!

If you don't want to do nights because you don't like them then that's reasonable (lets face it, who would do nights if they could chose not to?!), but again is not part of the post-op recovery process.

Hope it all goes ok.

I'm ex clinical staff and after long term sick leave I went back on phased return starting with 4 hours and building up to full 12 hour shifts by 6 weeks.
I was allowed to use holiday entitlement to lengthen my return.
I have several health conditions, including a bowel condition, and need regular medication which affects my sleep patterns.
My GP gave me a sick note advising that I wasn't to work nights and OH doctor supported this.
The ward I worked on was much quieter at night and lots of staff liked the night shifts because it paid more for less work.
I found my union rep and OH really helpful and on my side, but HR (who don't have medical training) were very unsympathetic.

I’m on sleeping tablets as it is. My blood pressure is through the roof. The gp said if it doesn’t work to ho back to her in two weeks.

I get where you are coming from exactly. I work on ICU and know what HDU can be like esp on nights. The job is bloody stressful and if you’ve not slept during the day it can really impact on your ability to practice safely.
I’m off sick as having cardiac investigations and I dread going back and doing 2 weeks nights 2 weeks days. Colleagues have done phased returns with a days A/L each week, not sure about nights as some worked them permanently so they obviously suit them.

No nights for three months and to take a days annual leave for the next month. That’s fine will see how I get on. No one but no one can know what nights are like unless they’ve done them, they cut five years off your life easily.

There’s evidence to suggest that shift work generally and night working specifically is more physically demanding and can really impact your endocrine system. I’ve had pregnant women taken off late/night shifts on medical advise so I can totally understand a medical need not to go back on nights until your hormones have settled back down a bit. I’m not nhs but did work in a 24/7 service for a while and night working is hard going.