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?

It's not nice. But these things get sorted. Take good legal advice. Now.

Hopefully a compromise agreement could be reached? and then you hopefully move on and get a new job?

When you are in the thick of something (anything really bad) it feels tough. You can't see the wood for the trees.

But in 5 or 10 years time, with hindsight, you heal and realise that it was just one period, one time, and we do recover.

He is in ADs but they aren't a cure all as I am sure you know

No well I get that, but obviously we don’t know that from the OP so can only attempt to suggest things. Also it’s really hard to definitively say YANBU yes they’re taking ages, when we have no idea about the accusation. Again making assumptions, but you belive him to be innocent of whatever it is - right?

Why don't you take some employment law advice?

Flowery runs her own business and is superb.

Or pay for some legal advice at least. Do something proactive.

Some of these responses are just bizarre and rude.

6 months doesn't surprise me considering it's the NHS.

I'm sorry this process is taking so long. I hope he has visited his GP for the depression. Being NHS this could take many more months before you know the outcome.

I think you need to plan for the possibility that he may not be able to return to his career, or, even if the investigation finds in his favour might not beable to return to the same location and that you might have to sell up and move to a cheaper area or move to another place to get work.

I'd be engaging him in DIY / decorating/gardening to make the house sellable at the drop of a hat (ok with a bit of tidying)

Is there another qualification he can get that could enable him to work in a different capacity- eg part time study from home for something? Retrain as a teacher? Take HGV licence? (there is a real shortage of these, and it's going to get worse with less Eu workers and the existing drivers getting older since the route to a full licence got more complicated - and pay is good)

Is he able to take on work in another capacity while suspended so you can build up some extra savings to tide yourselves over? Or voluntary work to build on his self-esteeem (it cannot be nice with the threat of striking off over your head, but doing something positive for others can only help his mental state).

It will be very difficult for you all, he should keep going to his own g.p. with this amount of stress it's putting you all under. does he have any idea if the accusations are true or false, what does his union say.

Bloody hell. I think that many people here must have no idea what it's like to lose a job. It destroys people. Also, a great many tribunals are now publicly published. Yes, most people wouldn't be interested but it's about having something against your name, whether you have done anything wrong or not. I'm sorry that I don't have any practical advice OP but I really really feel for you. My friend hadn't even committed this supposed misconduct, it wasn't anything to do with his work and wasn't even that serious but it still led to him nearly losing his house and had a great great toll on his mental health.

www.standard.co.uk/news/surgeon-suspended-for-taking-bowl-of-soup-7236927.html

Nhs suspension can be for dubious reasons.... from the link: "A brain surgeon has been suspended from his hospital in a dispute over whether he tried to "steal" an extra helping of soup. Terence Hope was sent home after it was claimed he took the soup from his hospital's staff canteen without paying. The consultant neurosurgeon, who is one of Britain's most respected specialists in his field, claimed he was getting extra croutons"

Op if your dh is a doctor or dentist ask him to contact the Practitioner Health Programme for mental health support.

And yes it is shit, but in honesty it does sound like he is catastrophising. If he is suspended, he will find another job. If he is struck off (less likely), he will find another career, albeit prob with a salary and status drop. It will be tough, but life will go on. I am a doctor so I get that this feels like the end of everything, but genuinely it isn't. I would really encourage your dh to speak to PHP if he is a doctor.

If you haven’t already done so get hold of the disciplinary policy - it should set out the process and at what points communication should be made. I know ours has indicative timeframes so that the person going through the process knows what to expect and generally when, but also to ensure it is efficient (in terms of the public purse). I would also go back to the union rep to ask them to find out what the current situation/progress is. I’m really surprised that they haven’t offered more support, but then as it’s the nhs, sadly others will be in a similar situation.

I would imagine that you should have already been told what the suspension is for and given the comment about national press I can only assume it is incredible serious. With this in mind the number of people they would need to interview as part of the investigation is probably far ranging and sorting out those meetings would take time (in between the existing workloads).

Even with all the support in the world, going through a capability, disciplinary or grievance is incredibly stressful. The best way to deal with it is head on, get everything in order, go through notes and prepare (for what? Well the policy will tell you what happens next).

Of course it’s in no ones interest (public sector or otherwise) to have a member of staff off on full pay, but it is better and fairer to conduct a thorough investigation rather than be quick and slap-dash.

Obviously if there is any truth in the claims or potential for a decision to go against him, then you also need to prepare for that eventuality. In the short term I would suggest an immediate meeting with the union.

Sorry to add, but be mindful that you may be entitled to legal advice through your home insurance. However, also check with the union - if you get legal advice elsewhere many unions will not then represent you.

Has he received a letter from them outlining the accusations, enclosing the disciplinary process, advising him of any dates or meetings at all. Did he have a meeting with management prior to being suspended when they discussed any future meetings, timeframe, anything at all. I would really push to meet with his union rep or governing body.

Friend of mine, senior NHS consultant, was suspended for more than 2 years. Waste of time and money. They could have completed the investigation in a month.

My friend at work who is a hca has been suspended, it's gone on for nearly 5 months now. It's absolutely ridiculous and she's in a mess at the moment. I really feel for you and your husband. I've told my friend to quit and find a new job, don't use them as a reference etc. She's adamant she'll get her job back and she's worried that if she quits people will think she's done something really horrendous. They are not allowed to tell other staff why they're suspended so people eventually make up rumours or exaggerate the truth. Staff members ring her to find out, message her on social media, bitch about her due to the rumours. It really isn't an easy thing to deal with for months upon months.

I hope your husband gets some answers really soon, you must be extremely worried. I said to my friend that if it's taking so long for them to decide then maybe that means they aren't sure? I doubt they'd fire somebody if they weren't 100% sure but what do I know!They could make the investigation last so long on purpose.

I was sacked from my job of 18 years in the June - utterly out of the blue .... the meeting I attended was called for a different reason but I was sacked during it.

I claimed unfair dismissal the following week
I got my ACAS mediation sign off in early July
the kangaroo court appeal was in late July

Employment Tribunal was lodged in late July
first hearing will be later this month
final hearing likely to be next spring

and thats with me having been "paid off"

Anybody who thinks employment law is easy has not been through it
it wears away your soul
it wears away your hope
it wears away your stomach lining

they system is totaly set up for employers to shaft their staff
and Brexit will make it worse
so sad

A consultant here has just been completely exonerated after being suspended foe six months when nothing had been found that was clinically dangerous. The nhs guidelines say the presumption should be not to suspend clinicians unless they may be dangerous to patients ot likely to destroy evidence.

Anyway, it’s horrible and soul destroying and you have to take care of yourself too. Fresh air, see friends, don’t hide away...getting perspective is hard but it’s worth trying.

Terrible stories of people's suspensions. The soup can that be true? What a tragic waste-

Terrible stories of people's suspensions. The soup sad can that be true? What a tragic waste-

I googled it. In my defence, I’m on a loooooong train journey.

The #croutendefence worked and the surgeon got his job back.

Some of these responses - God, I thought I could be a bit of a cunt; looks like I'm an amatuer.

It is an incredibly horrible situation to be in; a friend's husband killed himself after being suspended (public sector, not NHS)- There was a whole legal shitstorm that followed, employers condemned. Huge pay out, but too late for his wife and children.

OP, I hope things get moving soon, so at least you will know where you stand.

I can't really comment on the length of suspension because I don't know enough details, but some of the suggestions on here are deluded

• start a business
• retrain as a teacher
• write a novel
• get an hgv licence
• enjoy the break!



Also all the sniping about OP not taking their advice- shes not bloody asking for advice! I’m sure her and her husband know what they’re doing. Irl you can’t make these things go away with a quick call to acas

I was suspended for a year on a precautionary
In that time I had about 4 letters. I had no communication for 8 months.
I was on full pay and at the end of it just went back to work
A huge waste of public money

I was suspended once. It took two and a half months to resolve and it was one of the worst periods of my life. I can't express how awful it was. I have had a child die and i coped better with that than i did with being suspended. I can only imagine being suspended for 6 months with no resolution in sight must be devastating in the extreme.

Some of the responses on.here are just bizaree , i supported somone through a similar situation , suspended.in the NHS it wss such a sressful time for them the length of time and lack of communication isnt. uncommon in the NHS , the petson i supported was off over a uear , eventually the person left the job the stress was too much , i would say hope for the best but make plans for the worst too happen ie if he cant afford the mortgage without the job than you need to.make plans about what to do if the worst happens, it will pass. But its a very unsettling and stressful time

He could write a novel or start a business or whatever. He’s being a bit wet really

Ffs just when you think you've seen it all
....

@theWarOnPeace why would his name be dragged through the mud? Because doctors are increasingly used as scapegoats to cover up institutional failures. Just look at the case of Dr Bawa-Garba - she was put in a horrendous working situation by her trust, and made a (human, probably inevitable) error. She was hung out to dry by the trust, the NHS and the GMC. She was pilloried in the press and the GMC tried and thankfully failed to strip her of her medical license. So yeah, the OP may be justifiably concerned.

It’s shit OP and they should speed things up or at least let him know what’s going on.