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

[IrisJoy]

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....

By the way, ongoingomni, depending on where the OP lives, shielding advice then condition-specific advice is only just filtering out for some conditions so I can understand why the OP may only just have heard from their consultant and, before that, not to have wanted to presume what the guidance would say.

Just read your last post. Hard to think you were appointed in February and do not yet have a contract days before term starts. Odd.

I agree about asking to defer. You really need to look after yourself.

@LuluJakey1 I've not had contracts for ages with various jobs- public sector. It is a bit useless.

I would ask if there is any way you can work from home- you could do lesson planning and resources for all the other teachers, or prepare video lessons (at the time or in advance) for any children who inevitably will have to isolate at various points this term. Or perhaps you could develop other resources that will be useful to the whole school? It may be the head can cover your classroom time with HLTAs etc for at least part of it- worth a try, anyway.

And I would judge you if you did go back!
I hate how people are made to feel guilty for not wanting to get sick.

Having to be careful from having had a long transplant doesnt make you lazy or overly anxious!
Sorry you're feeling this way. How frustrating not being able to get on with your life and career.
It's so hard OP. I feel for you. Not read the full thread but hope the school defer your place. Fingers crossed for a vaccine soon.

As PP suggested, could there be a role for you as the school’s online teacher-there’s BOUND to be tons of your school’s kids needing home teaching throughout the next year, and you could be the coordinator, online teacher, etc for all of them...

Definitely wouldn't judge you.

I agree with PP that school will have been expecting this news and may have a replacement in mind. In fact, at my school you would already have been contacted and told that you were not allowed back. The pay issue is complicated by the fact that you haven't started yet - that is really bad timing for you.

I might judge your consultant a little for not telling you earlier. But not much, they will be very busy.

It's not the same as starting a new job in the sense of many other sectors if you are under the same LA though - you are essentially just working from a different location under the same employer. Honestly I would ask for reasonable adjustments, just as someone in an office would. Teaching is not well paid; the security from working in the public sector and having one employer regardless of moving schools is one of the few things that makes it worth it. (Not relevant if you have come from, or going to a MAT I know).

I would listen to the dr

I wouldn't judge you. This sounds dramatic and I don't want to scare you. But if you got covid and died you would have put yourself at increased risk just so people don't judge you. You only get one life don't risk it just in case people you don't really care about judge you. Especially as your consultant has said its not safe. Dr's tend to see the positives in people working and tend not to say yiu shouldn't work unless it really does pose a risk.

No judgement here (not a teacher but someone who worked with vulnerable kids, and I know what it's like when you feel you're letting your colleagues down, you want to be part of the effort to improve their lives etc). Flip it and think about what you would say to someone else in this situation.

I don't know how bonkers this sounds, but one of our fave TV presenters started off with a kids' youtube channel. Could you divert your need to teach into that? It takes work to get to the point where you can make money from it but it's time consuming and would keep you focused and challenged.

@IrisJoy It’s a difficult situation op. Shielding for over 4 months, then.....back to normal (well, I know, not quite normal). My dh was shielding too, as he has had a heart transplant. Our son moved out, to stay with a friend (just came home 3 weeks ago, when shielding was paused), so that his dd and I could completely isolate.

The only ‘support’ my dh got from our gp surgery, was when one of the partners phoned to ask him to have a DNACPR put on his medical records and to say he shouldn’t expect to be ventilated if he did contract COVID!

Due to our isolation we have got through this safely, so far, though it has been a huge worry. Then, all of a sudden, shielding is paused and that’s it! I don’t know what we expected, but really difficult to think that on 31st July he is high risk, then the next day we can start getting back to normal! However, if he does catch COVID, surely he will still be at the same risk! Nothing we have heard has allayed our worry!

I am pretty sure, from your OP, that you have similar feelings. It is such a difficult time and, while I don’t see how the Government could have really dealt with the situation differently, it is a huge grey area! I really feel for you and while you may think you are letting the school down, your own health is the most important thing!

This is your life, COVID is still a huge risk if you were to contract it! You know what you have to do. You need to put yourself first and anyone who says, or thinks, otherwise is wrong! I also agree that Zoom tutoring may be a way forward, as, until there is a reliable vaccine you will remain at risk! Take care 💐

@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?

Absolutely not.

I don’t think you should go back. However, your employment won’t begin until 1st September and as there is no shielding they will expect you to turn up. Our head has offered to look into a sabbatical or unpaid leave if teachers don’t feel they can return which seems reasonable. As you haven’t started work I’m not sure you will be entitled to much sick pay.

Don’t resign! Get some proper advice from somewhere like www.acas.org.uk.

As a former teacher with asthma, a mother of a former teacher with lung issues, a grandma of a primary school age child, I assure you I would not judge you for staying away. Don't go anywhere near those germ-ridden people! Remember how the Autumn term always pours with snot and rings with sneezes? No, really, don't go! Stay alive, if you can. That's the main thing.

I wouldn't judge you but I totally get how you feel, and timing is crap, but not your fault. I'm the kind of person who feels guilty about phoning in sick even though I feel horrendous. A letter from the consultant would definitely make me feel more 'legit' about speaking to my employer.

YES I would judge you

I would judge you if you did go back to work against clear medical advice.

I would judge that you are incapable of making rational decisions involving health and safety.

Make the decision to stay at home, then work the problem of the best way to do that that minimises the impact on you and others.

You shouldn't go in but obviously need to let them know asap. Are you meant to be starting work next week?

It sounds as if the doctor could sign you off, and then you should get sick pay. They can sign you off as unable to work in school, and you could ask the school what you can usefully do from home - perhaps it might be possible for you to provide some teaching for any pupils in a similar situation (wouldn't it be good if there were some system for matching up shielding teachers/pupils who aren't in the same school). You might be able to do some team teaching with someone in school - you could deliver some teaching by screen, and perhaps the marking load could be shared a bit - maybe get year 6 submitting homework electronically (practice for secondary) and you deal with that.

I had a colleague who was off for over 6 months having broken his leg skiing. These things happen, to new staff, to existing staff, to young staff, to old staff.

I've been an acting head and I wouldn't judge you. There will obviously be repercussions for the school but you retain good staff by treating people fairly. I'd go ahead with your contract and have every bone in my body crossed that the staff insurance would cover the cost of your absence! Haha. Please don't worry about anything other than your health.

Just wanted to say as a parent no judgement from me. You listen to the expert consultant and nobody else here op. Put your health first above anything else. The zoom idea of teaching sounds great, I think a lot of kids are going to be needing extra 1-2-1 support over the next year to catch up on schooling missed.

Don’t go back OP. No-one could possibly judge you for this. You have been given the most precious of gifts in those lungs and to compromise your health when you have come so far would be sheer lunacy. I can only guess at the arduous journey you have been on, and the toll it must have taken on every facet of your life. This must feel so disappointing, and no doubt another in a long line of changes you have had to accept because of your health condition. I don’t underestimate that I promise. But you owe it to yourself, your family, and your donor to keep those beautiful lungs safe.