Friend exploiting the NHS?

[WetLettuce123]

A friend I have known for 10+ years is an NHS doctor. She has been vocal with me and some others about hating her job and wanting to plan having a child to maximise her amount of maternity leave. About a year ago she got signed off sick from work on 100% pay with sciatica. She was advised to rest during this time and it was diagnosed as severe. During this time she has been on holiday and on numerous days out which involve physical activity and always asks people not to tag her in Facebook because she doesn't want her colleagues and bosses to see what she's doing.

Then despite being advised not to she got pregnant. She told us this was all planned and basically said she was exaggerating her health condition so she could be off work. She was told unless she returned to work she would not get full sick pay. Immediately she returned to work. This to me says she could always work as as soon as the pay was reduced she was back there. She says she's worried about her colleagues reaction to her situation as if positions were reversed she would judge them (her words).

She will only have to work full time for two months until she goes on maternity leave. AIBU to think less of her for this and think she's milking the NHS for her own benefit?

It would strain your back, though, Grays.

The full day shit?

I'd me worried about them pesky hemorrhoids.

The other thing to remember is that a sick note states you are unfit to carry out your work. It does not state that you are u fit to go on holiday/go to the supermarket etc.

Again, each to their own. The rare occasions I've been off sick I haven't dared leave the house for fear of work colleagues seeing me.

I have a child who could easily walk 21 miles (I know this because he has done).

It does not mean he does not have mobility issues, the issue with him on the two occasions he did it, is that he was meant to only be walking 100 yards in the opersit direction it was not a conscious decision or choice his feet just took him where they went and he had no clue he had t just walked the 100 yards he was meant to.

I'm pretty sure the police and everybody else who was involved in locating him quite agree that he has mobility issues.

Oh and he was allowed to walk the 100 yards because on most days he could achieve that

ALL hospital doctors are junior doctors unless they're consultants.

This is one of those things that I really should have known already but didn't.

Not all hospital doctors are junior or consultants, there are SAS doctors who are neither junior doctors in training or consultants and make up a significant part of the workforce , not that it's particularly relevant here in any case.

In my experience a small minority of NHS staff can and do take advantage of the sick pay arrangements , yes it is frustrating however I do believe what goes around comes and it's a matter of personal conscience

Comes around!

Doctors aren't saints and some will take advantage of their role but even when they do they will have worked ridiculously long hours and been committed to their roles far more than many professions are required to

There is a much bigger issue with people not cancelling appointments, or cancelling too late (can't always be helped) turning up late, booking appointment after appointment to get another opinion as they are not wanting to accept what they hear

Many really do not appreciate the NHS and that's a real shame it's far from perfect but it's far better option that what we could have

Is that you Jeremy?

For what it's worth I agree with you wet lettuce. I have a colleague who gets a,range of disability benefits for mobility yet regularly,walks 5K with her friends. My pet hate is people who lie and say they are on benefits when they need a prescription. They know there are few checks.
Please don't post nonsense, it's unfair. There are days when I can walk 5k. I may shit myself half a dozen times on the way, but I could at a push manage it. I'm currently appealing the 'few checks' process.

I see I'm not the only one who has seen that this post is timed perfectly to paint doctors in a bad light ahead of the strikes.

Please have a read of the government's own equality assessment of the new junior doctor contract. It acknowledges it discriminates against women, particularly single mothers, but says this is OK as it is 'a proportionate means to a legitimate end'. Where is the feminist rage about this??!

Sorry I digress.