To think someone being suspended is a waste of public money?

[suspended101]

DH was suspended from work six months ago. Since then, we have had next to no communication and still are none the wiser.

DH is beside himself and very depressed, barely sleeping and not engaging well with dc, I am working a bit as we are very worried about money if this doesn't end well, but I don't like him being left with dc when hes like this.

AIBU to think the investigation should have more speed?

Doesn't he want to spend the time looking for a different job?

Well, how? I'm not being rude, but he can hardly send off applications when he hasn't left this one and the reference would say "mr suspended is currently suspended so we cannot comment."

Has he spoken to ACAS? 6 months sounds very unreasonable, I know when we've suspended someone it's all been dealt with within a month time frame.

Agree that a long delay in concluding the investigation is a huge waste of money (assume public sector?)

Assume the allegation must be pretty serious for him to be suspended pending investigation

Has he taken legal or union advice?

Public sector yes, nhs. The union have not been able to advise much due to the lack of communication. It's as if we've all been left to rot.

Why doesn't he ask for a protected conversation, suggest that they agree mutual terms for him to leave and an agreed reference?

Are there concurrent criminal charges/safeguarding allegations as its unusual for an investigation to take six months unless there are external agencies involved.

Depends what the suspension is for I guess.

None the wiser about why he was suspended? I find that hard to believe. You sure he's not just hiding it from you?

Police? NHS?

He can't do that essex

He knows roughly why he was suspended. That isn't what I said. What I said is we have had no communication. We don't know what the outcome will be. Struck off? Dismissed but able to practice elsewhere? Final warning? We don't know.

Being seen to do the right thing and investigate thoroughly is more important for public confidence in the institution. Losing that confidence by rushing and/or botching investigations, or by appearing to cover things up, would be far more costly than his suspension.

Why would you know the outcome before the conclusion of the investigations? The likely outcome will depend on the findings.

Then it might be good if the investigations got a move on.

There is "not rushing" and there is "taking half a year."

It is a long time but not unusual in a regulated profession. Be aware that even once this is over, it may then be referred to his professional body who will conduct their own investigation (if it hasn't been already).

If there is any question about his fitness to practice, then the suspension is in the public interest.

What did he do?

I wholeheartedly agree with you OP. The processes are ridiculously slow and incompetent and cause a lot of distress. Unfortunately a lot of the time, investigating officers are doing the investigation on top of their normal job which causes even more delays. Communication is often poor and you are left not knowing what is happening. It is awful.

I do feel for you both...I really do.

They should only suspend if that is really necessary but in my experience, most people under investigation go off sick anyway because it is so stressful. No wonder the NHS has such a depleted workforce.

for you both. I do hope you get a resolution soon.

It’s about protecting the public isn’t it, must be serious as suspension is a last resort.
6 months does seem excessive.

Can his union rep contact Human Resources?

Without knowing the details it's hard to comment but what would the alternative be?

They can't really let people carry on if serious allegations have been made

Firstly "what he did is none of our business. Secondly, YANBU OP. It is not in the public interest to suspend someone on full pay for months and months.

I would suggest he contact the union again and ask them to be more pushy and then depending on what comes back from that maybe take up essex suggestion.

Why doesn’t he pull his socks up and see it as an opportunity to do something different? He could write a novel or start a business or whatever. He’s being a bit wet really.

Yes. Of course. I wonder why he didn't think of that.

If he’s a doctor, what has his union rep said? His medical defence group?

The hospital won’t strike him off - the GMC does that. If this is even on the cards, he needs to start doing a whole heap of reflection if he wants to keep his registration. I’d imagine the nursing council is the same.

This is real life, not TV. You don’t get suspended in Monday’s episode and then have your hearing in Friday’s. The NHS is a massive, and hugely overstretched, organisation with a wide range of priorities. You (understandably) don’t give full details of your husband’s role, but if we’re talking fitness to practice, I’m guessing he hasn’t been suspended from the hospital canteen for half-inching Bakewell slices. If he’s a medical professional, a full, thorough investigation is vital for both the profession and for him - and that takes time.

Honestly, it really does depend on your husband's position and what exactly the reason he is being suspended.

However given the Claims culture at the moments in UK/Ireland/USA I am guessing that your husband 's employer is double and tripling checking everything before making a ruling. Paying him his salary while suspended is than paying out a unfair dismal case.

However given the lenght of time he has been suspended I would be making plans for the future if he loses his job.

It takes time but are they really investigating it for 6 months or is the file just sat on someone's desk? The NHS would be a bit less overstretched if it didn't have so many unproductive staff on full pay sat at home on the one hand and so many overstretched staff in danger of making clinical errors on the other.