Work asking me to see violent patient while pregnant

[Kitely]

Since I got pregnant work haven’t been great. My two managers have never been pregnant as sadly both have infertility. I was warned that they’re not particularly supportive of pregnant colleagues but I hadn’t seen evidence of this.
I won’t be too identifying but my job involves direct work with patients and also holding a ‘caseload’.
I work three days a week and after going down to part time my caseload didn’t reduce. Infact it got bigger. It’s totally unmanageable at the level it is. Suggested safe caseloads are less than half I have.
I was off for a month with horrendous vomiting. When I returned I received no support checking I was okay.
A 5 minute pregnancy risk assessment was done. It’s so basic and doesn’t include anything on travel which is a basic aspect of the job.
It does state I’m not to work with violent patients.

So far this month I’ve been asked to do the following I’m not comfortable with:
Asked to assess someone out of area meaning I’d be on trains from 9am-9pm except for two hours during the assessment. I’d be utterly exhausted.

Asked to assess a patient who is violent. He spits at staff, throws items, punished walls. He has done this as recently as this morning.

Asked to assess a patient who has criminal convictions for beating up his pregnant girlfriend

Given an extra 5 cases all needing urgent reviews.

So: I immediately questioned the guy who beat up his girlfriend and they reluctantly had to remove him from my caseload as it went against my risk assessment.

I asked about the other violent patient but was told he has a learning disability so it’s not deliberate and also he doesn’t do ‘anything more than throw cups or his handheld cd player at people/ spit at people’. So therefore that’s okay!

The 9am-9pm travel I was told I would be able to rest on the train so not too stressful (not mentioning the walk to the bus, getting on a tram to the location, walking back to the train station etc). It’s an arduous day.

The 5 cases needing reviewing I just decided to push myself to do as I hadn’t had a positive response regarding other concerns. It was a long day but I managed it.

I know there’s a range of options available to me (simply refusing, taking the issue to higher management, getting union involved etc).

I have long before pregnancy had concerns regarding unreasonable caseloads and expected work level. I am thinking of not returning to work after maternity as this level of work won’t be feasible with a baby to look after.

I am struggling in pregnancy with exhaustion. Doctors say it’s totally normal which is true but makes working so much more challenging. I just wish they could understand that and give me work accordingly. My Doctor has offered to sign my off sick the entire pregnancy but I’d not do that as if I need to return I’m worried it would make my life harder when returning.

So before I get assertive and refuse some of these tasks. My AIBU is this, and be honest. I won’t be offended.

Am I being a bit unreasonable not wanting to do the above tasks expected of me? I’m talking specifically about the very long day of travelling and working with the violent patient? I’m worried I’m being precious. I don’t want to take this further if I’m being unreasonable. I just feel exhausted and anxious.
I am 26 weeks pregnant.

I am sorry to say, I have seen infertile women be extremely cruel to pregnant women. Extremely cruel. Women can be evil to each other. Especially when another woman has something that the first woman wants.

I wouldn't feel at all safe in your situation OP. Refuse to do anything that is dangerous.
If they question you on it, being the situation to someone else's attention

For travel, please ask them if you can drive or take taxis to stations etc to minimize walking carrying things in the heat. My job let me do this. 9-9 is that your working hours? Will you get TOIL for this?
Violent service user- you should ask a manager to come with you for support. They will probably take it on themselves (maybe) instead of going anyway.

Tbh if the doctor is offering to sign you off I would take that. You won't be back at work for months so anything will have blown over by then, and also you are legally protected while on mat leave they cannot discriminate against you.

Go on sick leave

@Decaffe it does actually sound in this case, that the managers are dicks. They must be doing it deliberately and quite frankly I've met quite a few bitter infertile women who have made life difficult for others purely out of envy. There's always lots on here too.....

This all sounds horrendous.

Think about what the worst outcome could be if you continue to work, and shut down that risk. The demands being placed upon you are unreasonable. As a friend told me when I was pregnant : you child has no voice. It is completely on you to advocate for your child, born or unborn.

Good luck.

Get yourself signed off sick. They don’t care about you and you have to put you and your baby first. Don’t feel guilty at all.
i had a situation - not on this level - but the gp advised me to go off sick when pregnant. I didn’t as i felt guilty and bad for colleagues. I regret it when i look back, no one thanked me for it and i just made my life more difficult. Also you won’t have the added pressure of having to close all your cases.

Awful that they are asking you to work with violent patients.

I am a teacher and our risk assessments excuse us from playground duty because a child might run into us accidentally!

But I do think the travel request is fair enough. Many jobs are a 12 hour shift every day and you are mainly sitting on a train. Did you previously enjoy doing this sort of visit or not? Because to me it reads that pregnancy might be the excuse that gets you out of doing it.

I'm surprised sending you on a ten hour round trip by train is their best option though. Isn't there a flight for that sort of journey?

I don't think you should have to work 4 hours of overtime though unless paid. Could you compromise and ask for the following morning in lieu.

I’m in the same position. I have decided I am no longer willing to work in my role and I’m getting signed off sick.
The only way these workplaces learn is by people simply refusing to work.
does anyone know how to go off sick? What you need to do?

Are u a man?
no this lady isn't being unreasonable. She has been risk assessed and the advice was she should not be place with violent offenders. Yes he may have learning difficulties but throwing cups and lashing still can be frightening and can cause additional stress on a pregnant woman and affect the unborn foetus.

This goes against the risk assessment. The OP has a right to be upset