Nurses refusing to do contraceptive injection - trigeminal neuralgia

[Contraceptiveproblem]

I don't know if my name change has worked but if it has and anyone has an issue MN can confirm this is real and I've spoken about my exemption before, I idn't put about face covering exemption in title as I don't want a pile on. I regularly (including throughout lockdown as I cannot switch to the pill due to interaction with meds I'm already on) have the contraceptive injection. I called to book it for next week to be told nurses are refusing to see any patients without a face covering and that it would have to be a doctor - that's fine. I am exempt from wearing a face covering as I have a brain tumor causing severe trigeminal neuralgia so can't have anything touching my face, and cannot wear a shield because I have a scar from brain surgery up the right side of my head which I cannot have any pressure on. I have posted about this on threads before. It's very difficult and I rarely go anywhere that would require one if I don't desperately need to as I know what people think. I've received a phone call this morning from the nurse who advised they won't be doing it. I can't wear any type of face covering even though I would much prefer to. Any pressure on my face or head can cause me to fit, wet myself, at worst and at best leave me in agony in my face and head for days and weeks afterwards. As it happens the meds which mean I can't change my contraceptive are actually the ones that treat the neuralgia so they are fully aware of it, they were my GP throughout my tumor and other diagnosis'. I'm happy for a doctor to do it as was suggested yesterday - but for some reason they told me that and went to speak to their manager to arrange it, but all I have been given is a call back from a nurse to tell me the nurse won't do it. I couldn't actually speak to the nurse as they were busy so they read the notes which said that they won't do it, it wasn't clear if this means the nurses won't (fine) or nobody will (not fine). I have extremely heavy painful periods which made me anemic and faint, and the injection stops them completely which is why I'm on it in the first place as it was the only option that wouldn't be affected by my current meds. Surely they can't refuse me access to care because I am legally exempt? I don't know what I can do about this?

She doesn't have a choice whether to wear a mask or not mob21, she just can't wear one. Nevertheless she has the same rights to healthcare as everyone else.

I really hope you get sorted, Covid patients aren't masked up yet someone with zero Covid symptoms can't have a 2 minute max jab in a controlled environment in extenuating circumstances!!!

I'm a community nurse and 99.9% of the people I see don't wear a mask, through choice not because of exemption and I still have to go into their homes and provide care, so I think it is appalling that someone who is genuinely exempt is being refused access!

I wonder if there is a way you could hold one of the clear plastic shields to your face, but so it is not touching, but still kind of acting as a screen? The dr/nurse could then have their mask and a shield. That seems pretty sufficient considering the short time they are going to be near you?

Not saying you should have to do that, but perhaps a compromise you could suggest so your I jection isn't delayed any longer while you raise a complaint?

@anxiouswaiting
How do you feel about having to give treatment when your patients are choosing not to wear masks, out of interest?

I ask as I would refuse to see a patient who is making a choice not to wear a mask (as opposed to a medical exemption)

I don't know what kind of 'seal' they think a single layer of fabric is going to make? Or if they would accept a face shield (which I know is not an option for you) that wouldn't make a seal so I don't see how holding a mask across your face is any different?

To save you the bother of more ringing around community pharmacies do not give depot contraceptives. I do feel for you, but it at least sounds like the practice a manger is on to it and sorting it out. Try not to take it too personally, there may be circumstances they can’t tell you like vulnerabilities including pregnancies or someone may have picked up covid from an unmasked patient and they’re now taking a hardline or maybe they’re being asked to work without PPE. Ultimately the responsibility is with your GP, they will have to sort something out

Everyone has a choice- how about gently holding a soft cloth, soft scarf, over her mouth and nose for the 5 mins to give the injection.

It would be really great if this thread, which OP has started for support and advice for her situation, was not turned into yet another thread where everyone rages about mask exemptions and mask refusers generally.

I have no advice but just wanted to say how sorry I am that you have to put up with this shit on top of everything else you are dealing with. I really hope your gp surgery comes up with a workable solution asap.

@Contraceptiveproblem bloody hell, they aren't being too helpful, are they? I'm a nurse, I completely understand HCPs wanting to keep themselves safe and I am very pro mask. However there also has to be some leniency for genuine cases. Perhaps ask them if they want you to duct tape the mask to your face to create a seal or if you could stick your head out the window while you stick your bum in the air for the jab

OK, I'm being facetious, but there surely has to be some kind of work around?

Face coverings aren’t mandatory in peoples’own homes as they are on medical premises. Wherever you work I don’t think it’s generally ok to refuse treatment but it is appropriate to ask your employer to keep you safe by putting in extra measures such as a respirator mask, a screen, an appropriate out door area, a rapid covid test before patient being allowed in the surgery.

@Contraceptiveproblem wait, what about attending a sexual health clinic where you could perhaps get your jab done, they may have different rules, allowing you to exercise your exemption for the mask?

When we have a patient who can’t wear a mask we double up and wear mask and visor.
The way people are being treated beggars belief.

I am sorry you are getting a hard time @Contraceptiveproblem the only thing I can suggest is that instead of keep chasing on the phone move it to writing (email) and copy in the CCG.

If there is no-one at the practise who is able to do it the CCG might be able to help sort an alternative.

I am absolutely aghast that some people are justifying denying medical care to someone with a fucking brain tumour.

What the fuck is wrong with people that a. They don't realise that denying care to people due to a disability is discrimination and b. they don't even consider the morality of this?

Where the fuck has peoples' common sense gone? Apart from the rude and heartless comments, suggestions like holding a piece of fabric up in front of your face to be able to gain medical care are staggeringly bizarre.

Do people really think that every single person who needs access to medical care is wearing a mask? People being cut out of cars in an accident, people accompanying patients who lip read, children under 11, an epileptic who has a seizure in the street, paramedics who are called to a woman who has collapsed at home etc etc etc...do you think HCPs just refuse to treat all these people?

What on earth has happened to common sense and common decency.

Could you suggest having the injection outside, in your car? If you’ve had it many times before I guess the consultation part isn’t much, you could do any talking over the phone, wind down your window a bit, stick your arm out, and they inject it like that? That would surely be an absolutely minuscule risk?

(I’m not in healthcare so I don’t know if this is not possible for some other reason)

@EatScrollSleepRepeat it really does appear that a lot of people are absolute fuckwits

@Frazzled13

Could you suggest having the injection outside, in your car? If you’ve had it many times before I guess the consultation part isn’t much, you could do any talking over the phone, wind down your window a bit, stick your arm out, and they inject it like that? That would surely be an absolutely minuscule risk?

(I’m not in healthcare so I don’t know if this is not possible for some other reason)

To be clear, I don’t think you should have to do this. I think people with disabilities that grant exemptions to masks should be treated as anyone else would be. But it might be something you could suggest

We usually have the depo in the muscle at the top of our buttocks rotating sides each time.

Some surgeries have ‘tents’ in the car park.

After a bit of digging I've found the relevant government guidance on the use of face coverings in primary healthcare settings. It's very brief.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-infection-prevention-and-control/new-recommendations-for-primary-and-community-health-care-providers-in-england

Unlike the use of face coverings in shops, public transport and other indoor spaces, GP surgeries and other health care settings are not covered by legislation - this is guidance:

- providers of primary and community health services should ensure that measures are in place so that all settings are, where practicable, COVID-secure, using social distancing, optimal hand hygiene, frequent surface decontamination, ventilation and other measures where appropriate

- where a setting cannot be delivered as COVID-19 secure through all other means, a local assessment may conclude that primary and community healthcare staff (both in clinical and non-clinical roles), when not otherwise required to use personal protective equipment, should wear a face mask; worn to prevent the spread of infection from the wearer*

- where a COVID-19 secure environment cannot be maintained, patients and members of the public entering primary and community healthcare premises should be advised to use face coverings in line with government advice

So the government advises that they should do all the other stuff to make their setting 'covid-secure' and if that can't be maintained they should advise patients to wear a face covering in line with government advice - which, as we all know, includes exemptions as well as a request that people be mindful and respectful of the circumstances in which someone may be unable to wear a face covering.

This is guidance, not the law, so GP surgeries don't have to follow this. They can come up with whatever policy they like as long as it complies with all other existing laws, including the Equality Act.

It doesn't look good for a GP surgery to be ignoring both government covid advice and the Equality Act.

This is such a crazy situation for something which could involve under 2 minutes of contact time (not even face to face as someone has pointed out it is injected in the buttock!). Fingers crossed the doctor tomorrow will just do the sensible thing and support you seeking healthcare. My mind is blown at the “computer says no” attitude (I say this as a practicing GP, and taking everything you report at face value)

The parts of the EA that are most relevant here are indirect discrimination and failure to make reasonable adjustments

www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/disability-discrimination

Also the public sector equality duty (PSED). Here is a page outlining what organisations like GP surgeries should be doing to comply with the law during this pandemic:

www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-and-equality-duty-0

It doesn't sound like your surgery is doing any of this. This would be a good link to include if you write to them.

So sorry to hear this.
Hope you get it sorted soon.

In my job I have to be near people who do not all wear a mask and I cannot and do not refuse. Hopefully soon those nurses will get the vaccine, and then they cannot refuse to give treatments.

My only other thought is if there is a different go practice you can get to which can offer this service? Not ideal, I know.