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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not attend university today?

16 replies

ecnatsid · 14/04/2022 09:20

I've just had a similar procedure to a smear test, to investigate complications following a traumatic injury I sustained from the birth of my son.

Long story short, university couldnt grant me maternity leave and I went back within a week of an emergency C-section. I had some gynae issues as a result of a procedure following a haemorrhage.

It's been a few months, I've been putting off getting this checked because I've had constant back to back studies and placement duties as well as raising my kids. My recent smear flagged up abnormal and they want to check on that, as well as investigate the injury

Im due in uni today, I'm very sore and quite emotional tbh. I want to stay home and rest, the procedure wasn't complicated but it was more painful than I expected due to my injury.

My university aren't the most tolerant of abscences and I missed a lecture Friday due to my own stupidity of putting down the wrong date. These are my two only abscences.

Would I be unreasonable to stay at home, or should I suck it up and attend?

OP posts:

missymarrk · 14/04/2022 09:21

You went back to work a week after having a c section? What country are you in?

SexTrainGlue · 14/04/2022 09:23

If you are too unwell to attend, then of course you don't.

You need to see a lawyer - it's actually illegal for someone to return to ward within 2 weeks of childbirth (longer ?6 weeks? if industrial/heavy manual work)

JuneOsborne · 14/04/2022 09:26

Are you a student, rather than staff?

When does your semester finish, it seems late to still have teaching. It's exam week at a lot of unis.

Do whatever you have to do. Are you on a vocational course?

Nomoreusernames1244 · 14/04/2022 09:26

Long story short, university couldnt grant me maternity leave and I went back within a week of an emergency C-section

Wtf? Are you in the UK?

Are you a student or a university employee?

If a student I understand you won’t get “maternity leave”, but the usual practice is to defer a year and pick your studies back up.

You mention placements? Is it something vocational like nursing?

I don’t have an answer I’m afraid. It seems a bit late now to think about writing off this year and resitting next year, when your nearly into summer.

Won’t they accept sick notes?

LeavesOnTrees · 14/04/2022 09:28

Can you get a sick note from the doctor to give to your University?

Maray1967 · 14/04/2022 09:29

Univ lecturer here. Which Univ is running classes today?
I’m sorry that you’ve received so little sympathy. There is no way we would expect our students to be in class one week after a c section. I am astounded to read that. I know courses with professional or clinical placements monitor attendance tightly because of the need to complete the correct number of days on placement but even then there is usually time in July for students to make up days if they have not completed earlier in the year. I have a friend who is senior admin on a veterinary course and that is what they do.
I hope you recover quickly 💐

Original poster

ecnatsid · 14/04/2022 09:46

Nursing student, in England. I am with a union, they couldn't help as it was at the discretion of the uni. I had my baby end of august and was back September 13th.

It's been awful. I couldn't take a year, because the nursing lead said my place wouldn't be guaranteed and I couldn't join a later cohort because she said student finance won't allow it.

I've been through hell and I worked too hard to drop out

OP posts:

Original poster

ecnatsid · 14/04/2022 09:51

@Maray1967 I don't want to be too outing but we still have classes and I'm doing a nursing course

OP posts:

IsDaveThere · 14/04/2022 09:59

I work in a University whic is still teaching this week (and after Easter). Our students can 'self-certify' illnesses via the student portal so that absences are authorised, for up to 5 days without evidence. Do you have that option?

CupcakesK · 14/04/2022 09:59

It sounds like you are an incredibly strong person and have been through a really challenging time. Take the day off.

It sounds like you have probably been given very bad advice and let down by your nursing lead. I would contact the your student union going forward as they will be able to give you advice on what support the uni should be giving you, student finance etc. Is there any one else in the course you can contact for advice? Maybe the welfare team or senior tutor?

Chilldonaldchill · 14/04/2022 10:26

@LeavesOnTrees

Can you get a sick note from the doctor to give to your University?

Sick notes are only for employees. Students are not entitled to them.

britneyisfree · 14/04/2022 11:13

Hey op. It's true it's at the uni's discretion to grant the maternity leave. However it's SFE absolutely would have allowed you to take the year again at the end of the year. It's called the discretionary something year. Everyone is entitled to one. There's no application you just request it.

Your uni clearly have their own agenda. See the disabilities team as you have a short term condition which is having an impact they'll be able to help. All the best.

britneyisfree · 14/04/2022 11:14

@Chilldonaldchill yes they are entitled to sick notes.

I know this because I have accepted many of them when I worked at a uni. Please don't give false information with such confidence.

Maray1967 · 14/04/2022 20:44

Yes, students can get sick notes .
And yes, students can interrupt study and return a year later and still have student finance. You need to speak to your student finance team - sounds like whoever you spoke to is just trying to get you to stay on course.

tttigress · 14/04/2022 21:09

Universities are probably stricter now than in the 90s. Had a friend that attended well under half of the lectures and was constantly wanting to borrow my notes.

They failed in the end, but not due to absence from lectures. Had many other friends barely went to 50% of lectures. (This was a STEM subject at a Russell group university)

Chilldonaldchill · 14/04/2022 22:45

[quote britneyisfree]@Chilldonaldchill yes they are entitled to sick notes.

I know this because I have accepted many of them when I worked at a uni. Please don't give false information with such confidence. [/quote]
I said they weren't entitled to them, not that no one ever gave them.
The DWP has made very clear that no schools or universities should ever ask for sick notes which are only for absence from paid employment.
They can ask for a report from the doctor which will be a private letter and can be (and should be) charged for.
There are still a few GPs (and hospital doctors) out there who will provide sick notes for students but they should not do so.
The highlighted bit in the attached shows this.
None of the practices that I advise (one of my roles is advising on this very thing) would ever give a sick note for this and their local universities and schools have agreed to stop asking for them.
It's a total waste of time for doctors, practice staff and patients alike - these are either adults (in the case of uni students) who can tell their uni that they were ill for a day or two or children whose parents can tell the school the same thing.
Sorry to derail your thread op. I hope you're feeling better.

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