I don't want to get sacked *tw miscarriage *

[FMyUterus]

I had 8 weeks off with a miscarriage very recently and I kept bleeding and had to have 4 d&cs, in the end they sent the tissue away to be examined as it looked 'odd' with covid delays etc I got the results last week and it was a full molar pregnancy and despite my d&cs I'm still spotting and my hcg is well over 500,000 still I know this because they rushed me in for bloods last week. It explains why I feel sick etc.

A full molar pregnancy for those who don't know is where an egg with no dna is fertilised by a sperm and then instead of a baby it just causes grape like tissue to grow at a massive rate and there was never a baby but your hcg levels are insanely high so you have horrendous pregnancy symptoms and then if you're unlucky like me it can grow back and then you need extra treatment

However now they have decided I need to have a course of methotrexate injections and they want me in as an inpatient for a week and then as an outpatient for as long as it takes for the hcg levels to go down, problem is because I had so much time off work earlier because of this I'm scared to tell them I need more time off. I've mentioned it to some friends at work and they said I'm likely to get sacked if I take any more time off but would this be classed as pregnancy related?

Also I work for the nhs and we use the Bradford score so I am worried about losing my job, sadly for me though I can't have any treatment at the hospital I work in because there are only 3 hospitals in the uk that oversee the care of women with molar pregnancy who need extra treatment and my nearest is Sheffield.

Aibu to take more time off or should I ask my consultant if I would be allowed to do my own injections as I'm a nurse?

Yes, this counts as a pregnancy related illness.

However if you can’t do the job, then provided they try to work with you and make reasonable adjustments, they can eventually sack you down the line if it’s unfeasible for you to carry out your role.

Oh my goodness I'm so sorry to hear this, how awful for you. You will not be sacked for this. I work for NHS and it would be a poor show if they said anything at all about you needing time off. Surely you will be signed off sick by your consultant?
No I wouldn't give injections to myself in this situation as it needs close monitoring.
Hope you feel better soon and so sorry for your loss

I can do the job I just had an 'excessive' amount of time off for my miscarriage and my consultant in Sheffield is pushing for a week as an inpatient to do the first weeks treatment to make sure i don't have any adverse reactions although technically it's only 4 days of injections it's 1 every other day for a week so it would be 8 days off work, then a week off treatment and then an injection every other day at home / I can do them myself at work if needed but it's just the need to have more time off

Are your manager/HR aware that this is a pregnancy related illness? It would be best to inform them ASAP to prevent unnecessary disciplinary proceedings for your absences. Don’t take advice from your friends, there’s plenty of charities or even ACAS to advise you

Have you had a lot of sick leave prior to this?

It is incredibly difficult to be sacked by the NHS! Even with a terrible record of sickness.

Uncomfortable meetings with HR yes.
Sacked No.

ESp when there will be a paper trail to support your illness.

As you may know in NHS you can have up to 6 months off sick on full pay then go down to half pay for 6 months.
If you are signed off then there is no problem.

Just reread my earlier post, it sounds harsh sorry! I don’t think they’d sack you over this either, just wanted you to be aware that you are protected by law but don’t have blanket immunity from being let go. However if it’s just a temporary thing, you won’t even need to worry about it.

This was my first episode of sickness. I think what I'm going to do is go in tomorrow as I'm due on shift. Ask to speak to a band 7, explain everything in detail and then ask if I can use annual leave for the rest of the week/ take it off sick go into Sheffield as an inpatient then see if I feel well enough after the first week of treatment to return maybe just 2 days a week and use leave for the rest for a little bit. I still want to go to work I just need to sort this out more

I don’t think anyone would have an issue with you taking time off work for this. Please take care of yourself and don’t rush back.

Thank you

Surely you can't get sacked over this. I'm sorry about your miscarriage

I inject methotrexate into my child weekly (im not a nurse) if they can supply it in an inject pen, then can't see why you can't do it at home

Best of luck Op

I suspect they want you in hospital as methotrexate can be unpleasant. I took 15mg (via pen) weekly and was as sick as a dog for a couple of days after each jab. They'll want to be monitoring your bloods daily too, I imagine. I had to have my own done on a weekly basis.

Having said all that, perhaps you could have your bloods done by the phleb. department at work?

What a rotten thing to have to go through and work worries must be making this so much worse. I hope they are understanding, surely only the hardest of hearts would take issue with this?

Wishing you successful treatment, buckets of understanding and a brighter future

I wouldn't waste your holiday on this. This is an essential treatment. Get a sick note for pregnancy related illness and take the time off you need.

You’ve only used one period of sick leave, it doesn’t matter how long it was for.
They can’t sack you.

I’m so sorry @FMyUterus this must be so hard for you.

You will absolutely not be sacked, it would be illegal for them to do so. This 100% qualifies as pregnancy related illness and cannot be counted towards your usual attendance / sickness record.

Please take the time you need for treatment - this is a time to prioritise your own health and well-being, not the immediate needs of your employer.

I’m so sorry you’re going through this and I hope you’re on the mend soon

Don't use annual leave, it's one episode of sickness and you are sick. Take the time you need💐 You're obviously having an awful time of it, just speak to your manager and be clear that this is pregnancy related and that you need to go in to hospital. Your job won't be at risk for you being seriously unwell.

Try not to worry about work, you are ill, need treatment and expect to be able to return to your job when your symptoms have resolved.

I would tell them what you have told us so they understand it's a molar pregnancy and the treatment is essential as is the monitoring. I would expect them to understand, it very important to be monitored carefully afterwards too

Your last period of sick will not count in any disaplinary action has it was pregnancy related. I would have the two weeks sick and have it signed off as pregnancy related.

Have you spoken to the manager? I work in the NHS and I would be very surprised about anyone being "sacked" then NHS virtually never sack anyone and have a lengthy procedure including an occupational health referral before they get anywhere near that stage.

TBH this sounds like work friends playing on your fears probably cos some shitty manager has drummed into them they have more power than they actually do.

Speak to your line manager and explain the situation, it should be taken as sick leave.

I have colleagues who have been off for 6 months at a time for one reason or another (NHS), some several times over. There is absolutely no way you will lose your job for this. Please don’t take A/L. You are entitled to have appropriate treatment, then to rest and recover properly.

Absolutely pregnancy related.

I’m so sorry you’ve had such a crap time.

Don't use AL.

This is pregnancy-related sick leave and it will take as long as it takes. Speak to your line manager, telling them exactly what is wrong. A molar pregnancy is rare and needs very careful management. The "mole" if not treated properly can turn malignant.

Value yourself. And if your colleagues don't understand the seriousness of your condition, they need to educate themselves.

You won't be sacked OP. It's pregnancy related sickness. As long as your sick note says that the won't sack you! Public sector are petrified of sacking someone for pregnancy related and are uber cautious. I've had 3 losses this last year and work in civil service and they jumped through hoops to make sure they did everything they needed to. Dont go back in! Just get a new sick note.

I don't work in the NHS but have worked for - and been a manager in - organisations with a similar ethos. You won't get sacked. I had trouble sacking people who were genuinely taking the piss. I had one person who regularly triggered the sickness monitor, and was genuinely sick, and I just hit the button to acknowledge it with HR and moved on. If you are really worried, join your union as insurance.

Take the time as sick leave, not annual leave - you will need a holiday when you're better! And take as much sick leave as you need to get better; I rushed back to work when I was much younger because I was worried about time off. It made my recovery longer and more difficult. If your manager's any good she will tell you this anyway.

You should absolutely take sick leave for this.

Of course, you could be sacked, no one can predict what ignorant and unfair employers will do, but I'd be staggered if an NHS manager sacked you for pregnancy related sickness. And if they did, it would be automatic unfair dismissal for pregnancy discrimination. An employment tribunal would find on your favour and there is no cap on discrimination compensation.