Respiratory issues

[Myusername2015]

Hi fellow teaching (of all types and sorts ) comrades; I’m after some advice. So 1st week of term I went down literally in the middle of the night with severe double pneumonia and was hospitalised
with oxygen IV Extremely poorly etc Since then (6 weeks) later I’ve had three more admissions and had constant antibiotics steriods and inhalers. Chest X-ray clear on last one but CT scan picked up infection (apparently usually seen in covid patients but I’ve never had a a positive test) So day before letter from HR tell me OH are now involved. I am home and recovering (fingers crossed but sleep most of the day and am knocked for six. My GP has signed me off for another two weeks and is
Insistent I don’t return until I feel ready (but heard OH can override this?)

I was hoping for your help with some adaptions I could talk to Oh about. I’ve never dealt with OH but my biggest issue is teaching a non core subject in a huge secondary means constant movement is inevitable. I feel so bad for the kids; I wondered about saying just sixth form to start (as they bubble together) but I don’t know that really helps the school and I’m scared stiff of contracting covid after this horrendous month. (Especially as I have also developed asthma during this)
Any ideas? Or experience with OH? I just feel they will march me back on Monday with a few extra lunch duties to make up for the trouble I’ve caused.❤️ To you all in these rubbish times

This might get more responses in the staff room section!

Hope you feel better soon.

First things first - tell OH to go somewhere else. Your GP is king here. I had Covid-19 in March/April this year and was off work for a long time - self-isolation and extended sick leave. My employer (multinational company) was impatient for me to go back but my GP issued me a sick note for "x" weeks because I fall into the "vulnerable" group of people as you are because of your asthma.

Employer sent in their OH on me and the first thing I asked them is, "Are you a medical doctor?" After some hesitation came the answer, "Eh. . . No, but I'm a qualified such and such. . . ".

"Have you not seen my GP's Sick Note stating the date of my return to work?" No answer. . .

From then on, I was asked a few general questions and told that I should follow the instructions as per the sick note. My employer never bothered me again.