NHS VER voluntary early release - anyone done this?

[Superlady]

hello. I’m a year into long covid recovery. Whilst I’m now managing to work and function so look ‘better’ I’m actually still struggling fatigue and cognitive issues. Im not looking after my children or my house the way I want to, it’s bear minimum cleaning and easy oven dinners. I’m unable to exercise and gaining weight that’s making me miserable. I can’t find the time or energy to do the things I used to enjoy.
work wise I feel useless, I make constant mistakes and take be hours longer to do tasks and I forget constantly what I’m doing. My boss has been great but he is leaving in a month or so for a promotion. His replacement is but of a nightmare, she’s a micromanager and her team are all pretty miserable about work as a result.
also our organisation is going through a big reorganisation with possible changes to my current role / team / location in the near future.

im considering requesting VER for all of these reasons to give myself a year to recover from covid and work on my mental health as well as my home life.

is this a reasonable request? I’m so worried about it being refused. I’m 40 so quite young to be requesting this.

I don’t want to be on long term sick and I don’t have the brain or energy to start a new job!

any advice much appreciated xx

So sorry you are going through this.
Might sound a bit odd but maybe try vitamin supplements to help you?
There is a company called British Supplements who do loads of really pure and helpful pills.
They have these emails which tell you about what the stuff does but it's all a minefield because of online censorship and what you are not allowed to say with the MHRA and stuff - but check them out - British Supplements, I reckon they will have something that can help you.
www.british-supplements.net/

There's this thing called NMN (Nicotinamide mononucleotide) which seems to help people and also black seed oil, which is a supplement used in the east for ages but is really helpful and has research: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8204995/

The best black seed oil people I know are these ones: theblackseedoil.co/

Honey seems to be really helpful too:
clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04347382

If you want high quality good honey then try:
www.easybeeproducts.co.uk/

Honey is a minefield because it's helpful but loads of it is just polluted with chemicals in china but that is a good source.

Hope you feel better and seriously, these are things backed with science and evidence and I hope they help you.

Have you been offered a referral to occupational health? I think that will be the next step. Get assessed and decide what's feasible for you. They can either find you a role with releasing adaptations or talk about next steps.

I have been through HR when I had a phased return back to work over a few months for long covid. Now I’m back to my normal hours I’m struggling. I don’t really want to be off sick again, but I’m not sure I’ve got the capacity to take on a new job role even at a reduced grade, I think making mistakes and being tired all the time for a new team would really bother my mental health. But you’re right it is worth a convo with occ Heath. Thank you x

I do take a bunch of supplements but will certainly check out your links, thank you for taking the time to send them. X

@Superlady no problem, just trying to help how I can it 's a shitty reality and getting quality is good.

Hope you feel better, I have been in horrible situations and it's always good to help when you can