Long covid nhs sickness

[MsBarrington]

Hi all, hope this is in the right place.

I became quite ill with covid at the beginning of this year and relapsed in the summer with all of the associated symptoms and after a&e trip was confirmed with pleurisy also. Since this I have been off work and have seen neurology, respiratory, had the lung function tests and am being seen in long covid rehab clinic for nhs workers.

I seen occupational health a few months ago during a time when my health was improving and the hope was that I could soon return to work but unfortunately I relapsed again. My manager is asking for a meeting next week but with long covid I cannot guarantee on any particular day I will be well enough to attend as some days I am completely bed bound with shortness of breath, fatigue and brain fog. Would any one with hr knowledge advise how I can word this to a particularly difficult manager who doesn’t quite believe in the severity of long covid?

I update her every week with all symptoms and steps I’m taking to recover.

Thanks for taking the time to read

Hopeful bump

I don't have HR knowledge, but if you are signed off by occupational health or your doctor can you request a virtual meeting instead?

If you manager is difficult I think you need to continue to liaise closely with occupational health and your own doctors for advice. Your manager cannot ask you to do something if they've recommended otherwise so continue to talk to them and get explicit recommendations around what you can and can't be asked to do in writing.

Advise you manager that you are too ill to attend in person and suggest a phone call instead. Warn them that you may have to re-schedule that call if you feel too ill that day. It is not unreasonable for the manager to want to speak to you and it is a chance for you to explain the severity of your illness. Ultimately you can be dismissed for incapacity but I suspect what they really want is to understand how they will be without you so they can plan accordingly

Thank you both for your helpful advice