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Original poster

Dr has advised me not to go back in September (teacher)

197 replies

IrisJoy · 25/08/2020 12:04

I have just had an appointment with my consultant. They have advised me extremely strongly not to return to my school in September. I am a primary school teacher who has had a lung transplant.
I don't know why I am writing this really. Maybe it's a wwyd? Or would you judge me for not returning.
Unfortunately it's a new job so the school don't know me. I feel that I would be letting them down terribly. Especially as I don't know when it would be safe to go in.
I am wondering whether I need to resign from a job I haven't started. I don't know if I would be paid. I hope not in a way as I feel bad enough as it is.
I have emailed the head and I am waiting for her to get in contact.
It's so hard for a lot of people to understand,as the government are so adament that shielding has ended. Tbh I would be the same if I was 'healthy'.
Just after a few wise mumsnet words I suppose....

OP posts:
MotherOfGremlins · 25/08/2020 13:11

I'm the parent of an autistic child who is going to be in a class with a new-to-the-school teacher in September.

If his teacher does not turn up as expected, it would be hell for him - but can you imagine how much worse it would be if his new teacher came to the school, and then got very very sick?

As the parent of a child who would find this very difficult, I'd still encourage you to do what you feel you need to do to keep yourself safe. No one is going to think you're lazy or feckless, and if they do, sod them.

SummerHouse · 25/08/2020 13:12

I would judge you wise and sensible. To think of it in another way, if I was a child or parent the consequences of a teacher getting seriously ill would be horrible. To think that me or my child passed the virus on to you is not something I would forget in a lifetime. You are between a rock and a hard place and it's totally unfair. I feel inclined to believe by your feelings on this that you are a brilliant teacher. There is maybe a role from home you could do - perhaps unlikely but worth asking.

MrsPworkingmummy · 25/08/2020 13:12

Hi OP, I'm on SLT and wouldn't judge you, however I'm curious to ask, when were you offered the job? For those on MN who don't know, there are strict windows when teachers can/can't start a new job unless they're on supply or out of contract. If you accepted the job prior to kickdown, you've had a lot of time to prepare the Head for your likely absence. If you've been offered it recently, during lockdown, were SLT aware you've been shielding? If they knew that, then they probably won't be surprised that you're needing to stay off. Your health needs to come first X

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General education
Aragog · 25/08/2020 13:12

You have to put your own health first in this situation. No, I wouldn't judge you. Hopefully your new headteacher can advise.

ChikiTIKI · 25/08/2020 13:12

Don't worry about whether people might judge you or not. Other people's approval is nowhere near as valuable as your health.

Original poster
IrisJoy · 25/08/2020 13:12

Just to clarify a couple of things: I took the job back in February before this all kicked off. I would never have done it once I knew as I vulnerable so as not to put myself or the school I'm this position. I mentioned my transplant in the interview and have kept them updated with my latest advice since lockdown.
I have emailed the head and asked to speak to her about it so that we can discuss the best way forward. I absolutely don't expect to be paid until I can actually start (although I don't know where they stand legally on that). I hope they don't have to.

OP posts:
inickedyourbiro · 25/08/2020 13:16

I'm a teacher and I absolutely would not judge you. Would the school even want you in?

I think as teachers we have a culture of going in even when we feel shit as we feel that we're letting colleagues and students down. This is a really unhealthy approach for so many reasons, from the need to look after your own health to the need to be healthy enough to teach well. There will be ways you can work effectively online. Anyone who judged you for going back in your circumstances would be an idiot.

Bakeachocolatecaketoday · 25/08/2020 13:17

@IrisJoy

Consultant has said they are happy to write and say it isn't safe for me to be in a school. Be honest, would you judge me though?
Can you manage with no pay - ultimately you will be dismissed as medically unfit.
Friendsoftheearth · 25/08/2020 13:18

I don't think anyone anywhere would judge you op, it is a huge operation and likely to leave you very weakened, the fact you can do any job is really testament to the good care you have received.

I am wondering why you have left it so long to inform the head? Was it not completely obvious when the covid outbreak happened that you would not be going into a teaching post? Or even since early summer when we know just where we stand with the virus? My only question would be why wait until 10 days before school to let them know.

I hope you find a new job that fits in with your health requirements, tutoring on line or similar would be fab Flowers

Aragog · 25/08/2020 13:19

If you had a letter from a doctor saying you should stay away from work because you had mild asthma

I would not judge anyone for following their doctor's advice. I would assume the doctor knew more abut their patient's specific health condition than I did.

It is this kind of thing that worries me for my return. I am clinically vulnerable due to my health condition and my medication. I was not in the shielding group but the next one down. My consultant has told me I am safe to return to work in school BUT that I should be stringent about the guidelines including SDing and hand washing, etc. I know that this isn't going to happen so of course i feel anxious about it to an extent. To the outside world such as parents I am perfectly fine. Day to day I am perfectly fine. However if I was unfortunate enough to get Covid I may very well not be fine. But because no one can 'see' it if I show signs of concern or distancing when I am in school with the children, I worry parents will think I am being OTT and unkind, etc.

MarshaBradyo · 25/08/2020 13:20

No I think you should listen to your consultant.

Friendsoftheearth · 25/08/2020 13:21

Okay, so just seen your update. You informed the head of your condition, in that case it is easier still, I very much doubt they were expecting you to come back and were politely waiting for to confirm. I am sure they already have a replacement lined up.

There is no way I would expect someone with a lung transplant to come back quite frankly.

Cosmos45 · 25/08/2020 13:22

God, please do not go back - I think you would be judged more for going in than not. Covid is a massive risk and attacks the lungs, you with a transplant are I would imagine very high risk. Nothing is worth your health and if anyone judges you they are not worth you.

pipnchops · 25/08/2020 13:23

I would not judge you at all, I think you need to listen to your consultants advice. Nothing is worth risking your health, especially not what other people think!

MarshaBradyo · 25/08/2020 13:23

You are on the ECV list, which is only about 3% of population

It’s not the same as moderate or increased risk, you are right to take consultant’s advice

Friendsoftheearth · 25/08/2020 13:24

aragog Do what you need to do to stay safe, parents etc will understand and will be happy to see you.
Your condition sounds like my dds, and she has been given the green light too. In fact she was on the shielding list and was taken off again! So relieved in many ways you, dd and others in the same position can have some kind of normal life.

Stoichio · 25/08/2020 13:28

No, I wouldn't judge you (I'm a teacher) - you really shouldn't go against your consultants advice.

I work with someone who has an underlying health condition (I don't know what it is just that she was fully shielding), and whilst it hasn't been announced/mentioned I would be very surprised if she returned in September. We're all assuming that she will be supporting our students remotely who also cannot return to school for similar reasons or writing SOW/helping with marking etc instead.

I'm surprised that your head teacher hasn't already asked for this kind of information/you haven't already told them though - ours asked for this kind of information months ago (for ourselves and those we live with).

ShellsAndSunrises · 25/08/2020 13:32

I’ve had a kidney transplant so wondered if I’d be advised the same, but my consultant seems more relaxed. My transplant is different and a lot older; though, and I’m not a teacher!

I wouldn’t judge you for not going back, but if the consultant doesn’t think you’ll be able to teach until this is over or a vaccine is available, you might be looking at 18 months on the sidelines without pay. Can you survive that? You might be entitled to benefits depending on your circumstances but I wouldn’t expect much.

You have to do what is right for you, and going against your consultants advice doesn’t seem that it would be in your best interests. Would he be happier you doing a different type of job in the meantime?

GreenPlum · 25/08/2020 13:35

You've had a lung transplant! I would never judge you. I'd be disgusted by anyone who would judge you. You have to listen to your consultant. You need to give yourself a break. I hope your HT is understanding and sensible.
Take care

FilledSoda · 25/08/2020 13:36

You'd rather die of politeness?
Seriously though , you sound awfully nice but you need to get your priorities in the right order.
No one minds , by the sounds of it the head won't be surprised and may have already thought of strategies for you to wfh.
The other thing is , this is your confidential business . Colleagues and parents won't think anything because they won't know.
Stay safe op .

Ginfordinner · 25/08/2020 13:37

@Immigrantsong

OP I wouldn't resign.

I would ask for reasonable adjustments and if that's not possible I would take sick leave.

You have legitimate reasons and I don't see why you should be a martyr.

I don't think that will go down well.
OngoingOmnishambles · 25/08/2020 13:39

Just to play devils advocate I am going to go a bit against the tide here.

I'm really sorry that you have just been told that you shouldn't go back to teaching whilst this is still going on, and I don't think you should, it is a very bad idea. However, I appreciate that you have been keeping your head in the loop over the past 7 months, but it's a week before the school goes back. I don't understand why you have only just realised that with a lung transplant, it is not a good idea to go back to teaching right now.

The reason I am going against the grain is because I've just had to cough up for a maths tutor for a year because our one and only maths teacher went off sick before summer last year, didn't come back in Sept, then reemerged 6 months later for a week and then went off again sick for the rest of the year. The DC had PE and other teachers teaching them maths in a very crucial year which now affects their settings in secondary school which are near impossible to move from. Having said that, I do blame the school completely for putting all their eggs in one basket WRT maths and not the individual teacher.

I hope your head is able to mobilise cover for you and quickly. I am really sorry about your health, but your school needs to cover you and quickly as our DC have missed enough as it is.

Zilla1 · 25/08/2020 13:40

Please don't resign, just wait for your employer to respond to see what they propose regarding on-line work. They don't give medals for dead teachers nor congratulate your family. If it takes a year for a vaccine, you may then have decades of a career. If it helps, I'd judge you for doing something ill-conceived and teaching, not for waiting and following your consultant's advice. A lung-transplant and immune-suppression is incontrovertible. I've seen people with mild, controlled asthma asking for statements to work from home when they've not asked for prescriptions or attended reviews for years.

Good luck.

TableDesk · 25/08/2020 13:41

I would judge you - if you actually went to your job

You have been given a gift, a gift or life. Do not worry what people will say, your life means more than that (& the gift from your donor)

Stay safe x

LuluJakey1 · 25/08/2020 13:41

If they have not give you a contact yet, presumably you have just been appointed very recently and they knew all about this. Why would they judge you? If a Head appoints a teacher who has had a lung transplant, who must have been shielding, in the middle of a pandemic that affects the lungs, she can't be surprised if this happens- it was a risk she took.

I wouldn't judge you.