NHS and sickness.

[ThornAmongstRoses]

I have been a nurse for 14 years and I have epilepsy.

Up until a year ago I had been seizure free for 13 years but over the last 12 months my control has been lost and I’m in a really uncertain place.

I have recently had 5 Months off due to ill health surrounding my epilepsy at full pay.

I went back to work about 6 weeks ago, all seemed well, and then 3 days ago I had a really bad seizure and another seizure the day after. The seizures I had this time round were not my typical seizure and after speaking to my epilepsy nurse about this change in my condition and what treatment changes will be needed I think I’m in for a rough 6 months.

I feel devastated.

I’ve got to speak to my epilepsy nurse again tomorrow and I have a feeling she’s going to suggest I go off sick again so we can stabilise my condition and make then required changes to my treatment without having to worry about work and the stresses that come with being a nurse.

I’m guessing though that I won’t be entitled to another long period off again at full pay though based on me only just having 2 months ago, but even with statutory sick pay, there’s no way me and DH can manage if my sick pay is only half pay. It’s just too much of a drop and we couldn’t manage with that much of a loss.

So my question is, even if my epilepsy nurse suggests I go off sick i that doesn’t mean I have to does it? I can refuse?

I know why it makes sense, I know it’s probably best if I do go off, but financially it’s just not a possible option.

Can you get some advise from your GP? The area you work in what is your work load like?

Sorry to hear about your run of bad luck. Unfortunately though it seems that you may need to cut down all your bills as much as possible just in case you do need to be off of work.

I had long term sick leave from the NHS and when I went on to half pay I applied for pip and esa which I got plus I had a mortgage protection plan which kicked in at 6 months. Could you do any of these to help. Also universal credit may top things up depending on your total income.
I also was given a grant from the rcn charity for mobility aids and money towards essential bills they did a very helpful financial check hence I applied for benefits. I don't even think you need to be a member of rcn and can self refer (although I was referred by my rep).
I did also look at all my outgoings and reduced as much as possible.
Long term this was essential as I was given ill health retirement.
Have you tried online benefits calculators to see if you'd be entitled to anything? If you are don't delay as they take a while to process pip and esa were backdated to application date though.
Hope treatment goes well.

My work is quite demanding, as is most nurses I imagine. It’s no worse or better than another nurse’s situation I assume.

Alongside working I’m doing a university course which my monthly take home pay is used to pay for a large chunk of it, and then my husband’s bring home pay (£2’300) takes care of the mortgage, childcare, household bills, shopping, phone bills, any car expenditures/petrol, buying things the children need etc.

We completely emptied our savings account last month (house related) so we only have £500 in that account which wouldn’t even cover one month’s difference in my pay going from full pay to half pay.

I just can’t imagine how we are going to manage or what we can do to reduce any costs we already pay. Like I said, my wage takes care of the university fees and they aren’t going anywhere

I was just asking because whilst I understand you need the money. Your health can’t wait on money. Something like seizures is dangerous would you not be putting yourself and patients at risk? To get a sick note it would state the reason usually.

You will have still accrued annual leave during that time so could maybe use that to string things out a bit?
Read your trusts sickness absence policy carefully as it will say how long you need to have been back absence free before the last episode is disregarded. Trusts are so hot on managing sickness now it really impacts on people very badly.

Ask to see OH.

Is it possible for you to do different duties?

I saw OH after a stint off sick and they were really helpful. I went back non clinical for a month (I'm a doctor). I wrote a lot of guidelines!

I agree with Acovic see OH asap. Its worth a discussion with your epilepsy nurse as to what duties you could do whilst they stabilise your epilepsy and then between OH and you manager 'reasonable adjustments ' or temporary redeployment could be considered