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?

You won't be sacked and trusts use Bradford scoring as a guide not the answer. Just talk to your manager. They will probably be v understanding.

So sorry to read what you are going through. Don't take the time as annual leave. You are ill and clearly need the time off for treatment and recovery.

You will not be sacked over this.

But for all the pp saying the NHS never sack anyone, and it’s really difficult to get sacked, that is not true. I know a few people who were sacked unfairly by the NHS. It’s a rather dishonest organisation, like many big businesses.

it's pregnancy related. they cannot sack you for that. Bradford should not come into play. if you are so worried, speak to your union.

and to not take annual leave to cover the inpatient stint.

I would be incredibly surprised if there was anything further than some ill advised pressuring meetings with your band 7/HR. You have been told that you need to be admitted to hospital, you cannot be at work. You cannot look after patients until you look after yourself. Make sure you have joined the RCN and do not feel guilty for even one second. Band 6/7 are there to deal with unexpected absences and will just have to get cover for you. And this is from someone who is also never off sick!

Surely if any employer can understand sick leave it should be the NHS?
Really sorry to hear about your illness. The last thing you need is additional stress. And if they've offered inpatient care then the chances are that's what you'll need.
I'd go and explain it to HR. If you're sick you're sick.

OP they can’t and won’t sack you for this (I’m a nurse btw). Also, regardless of how many episodes of sickness this counts as, you have a genuine certified reason for being off. Your friends are being massively unhelpful. Also, despite how many times the sickness is triggered it’s up to your manager to well, manage it. Someone phoning every few days with a headache is vastly different.

Think about all the NHS workers who have long term illness, cancer, MS, they don’t get sacked!

You can’t use annual leave because you’re sick. If anything your manager and colleagues will be sympathetic and be wishing you well.

Follow the treatment plan and don’t take it as holiday

Go to your grade 7 and email HR and explain everything in great detail

Would you feel more comfortable putting it in writing to them? I wouldn't take annual leave

Pregnancy- related sick leave isn’t counted as sick leave . I’m really sorry you are having such a horrible time. I would let your work place know why you need to take this time off and concentrate on getting back to full health.

@Igglepigglesgrubbyblanket

Surely if any employer can understand sick leave it should be the NHS?

Believe me it's hit and miss like any workplace. If you get a nice manager fine.
If not your life is a misery.
Fortunately they have quite clear guidelines so you follow them and argue your case. They troll off to hr who say you're correct. Then your manager huffs and puffs and everyone gossips behind your back.
Most NHS managers have few people skills imo.

Right my love. I know about this, I hope this is helpful.
You need a copy of your maternity policy and sick leave policy.
They should be in your HR intranet page at work. If you are still off get HR to email you them.
Unfortunately I don’t think this does count as pregnancy related because you are no longer classed as pregnant (the same as a miscarriage, as soon as there is no baby before 24 weeks it’s sick leave not pregnancy related)
However you need this time off so tough shit for the managers and the other nurses. You are backed up by your consultant. Get his treatment plan in writing and tell them your fears - he will word the letter in a way that no nhs manager can argue with.
This will then count as sick leave. Get your doctor to sign off for two weeks. There is sweet FA they can do about this. While you are off make sure you email weekly to ‘keep in touch’ When you get back to work you will have an return to work interview. If you’ve done the above they can’t touch you. They can pile on the ‘nhs guilt’ which they will do but can do nothing.
Do not feel guilty. Think of all the extras you’ve done over the years. Cx

I’ve been a line manager in the NHS and you would not get sacked for this.

Before they can even start any sickness hearing your sickness needs to be at unreasonable levels and yours isn’t.

Even when it gets to unreasonable levels you need to be referred to OH.

There is normally a 3 stage level of sickness before you get sacked. I.e. go on stage 1, then if you fail that stage 2 etc etc.

Other areas can be a bit ropey for dismissal but not sickness and certainly not when you have a justified reason and a consultant backing you up.

You should not be taking annual leave for this either. Very different than having cosmetic procedure and needing time off to recover and using annual leave however, you need to do this through no fault of your own.

I’m sorry you are going through this and I’m sorry your colleagues are acting this way towards you.

@sofiaaaaaa

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.

Exactly.

I had something similiar and work started down the "illness related disciplinary" route and backed off very smartish when told it was a pregnancy related illness.

There is nothing you can do except put your health first. Do NOT use your holiday.

Explain to work fully the situation -put it in writing, get the hospital to write to them. Good luck.

Hi OP

I think its illegal to include any pregnancy related absence when calculating time off sick or letting someone go etc. There are specific laws to protect someone in pregnancy. Unless there is a massive back story where they are already trying to get rid of you and making things unbearable then you should be fine. I would go with what your consultant says and Google the laws on pregnancy and employment before you go to your meeting

It would be illegal for them to sack you over this. It is pregnancy related.

Equality Act 2010.

Please don't worry and do take the time off as sick leave. The NHS has such a long drawn out procedure for dismissal on health grounds you won't get anywhere near stage 4.
You are best to take one long extended period of sick leave than several shorter episodes.
I was dismissed on health grounds by the NHS (rightly so as I can no longer work) but this took several years to complete and during that time I had three periods of 6 months or more off sick.
To put your mind at rest get a copy of the sickness policy, talk to your line manager and /or hr and get as much evidence from your consultant as possible (my consultants were brilliant when I explained what was happening). Also assuming you're in a union speak to them ASAP, they can give you some reassurance and advice also logging the issue now will give a paper trail if needed.
You may be called to a stage meeting and occupational health assessment however these are standard practice and look at how to get you back into work, it maybe a positive thing as then they may look at a phased return or temporary change in contract.
Best of luck with your treatment, speak to work first so that you can go into hospital without this stress /worry.

Unfortunately I don’t think this does count as pregnancy related because you are no longer classed as pregnant (the same as a miscarriage, as soon as there is no baby before 24 weeks it’s sick leave not pregnancy related)

Both molar pregnancy and miscarriage fall under pregnancy-related illness.

It is up to the medical practitioner involved to decide whether the sickness is related to pregnancy/miscarriage, not the employer. The pregnancy related certification will apply for the entire period that the sick leave lasts, so OP can take off more than 2 weeks if she needs to.