Redeployment at work? Anyone?

[MissMoodyMoo]

Has anyone gone through something similar? I'm a nurse on a extremely busy NHS medical ward the kind of one where you never get to sit or take a break! Any way I have had some pregnancy complications and have been off work for 3 weeks on bed rest and I've decided I'm not only ready but financially need to go back to work! Problem is occupational health don't think I'm fit to go back and are looking to place me somewhere outside a ward which I'm super excited about but nervous! I'm just scared they can't find anywhere appropriate for me and I'm left in a horrible mess waiting got a placement with no money coming in so close to Christmas and my baby due in February...any advice?

I expect what will happen is you’ll sit in an office doing admin. That’s what has happened to everyone else I know.

I read somewhere (gov.uk website I think) that if they can't find a suitable placement and reduce the risk enough they suspend you on full pay. I'm guessing they will try admin type roles first though!

No experience, but if you're in the NHS why aren't you being paid?

Just see it as a chance to experience something different. I'm a nurse but do a predominantly desk based job (I think admin is the wrong word as I'm a highly specialised clinician who uses critical thinking skills everyday). I'm currently 6 months pregnant and couldn't imagine working on a busy ward right now! Potential options are training, clinical education, research, safeguarding, but it really depends on what your skills are.

I was recently working on my trusts bank for 4 years to experience different wards and be in charge of my off duty to suit my needs before taking up a fulltime position in August! But my time served over those years doesn't transfer to my new role so I don't get sick pay or maternity pay 😔 it's a awful stress and I'm going mention to my union for future nurses in this situation! I've basically gave my life to trust over the last few years picking up shifts at the drop of a hat and helping out during the winter crisis doing more than 12hr shifts when staff couldnt get in and now I'm basically being punished for working on the bank rather than contracted to a specific ward!

Oh well if you’re just bank surely they have no loyalty to place you anywhere. You don’t have a job with the trust.

I was a member of the trust's bank not an agency bank as I live in Scotland. So my bank job was contracted by the trust and I was employed for the trust and couldn't work within any other trusts bank. Then I started my full time role in August

Unfortunately, that's the deal with bank work, on the flipside you get greater flexibility and potentially better pay - I do feel for you though.

i hope this doesn't sound mean, but were you not aware of these conditions and working on the bank before?

But that’s life on the bank. The money is good and you get to pick and chose your shifts but the downside is no sick pay or annual leave. If one of the bank said to me can I come and work in the office, I’d say no! It’s nothing to do with me. And to be honest it’s not my problem.

Yes you are contracted to the hospital but it’s not the same as having a job there.

If you are from August now employed by the hospital then that’s different.

On the bank I was entitled to annual leave depending on the hours worked. Again I've been contracted to a ward from August

I work for the NHS. I had a straightforward pregnancy so was able to carry on in my usual clinical role with minor restrictions (no lifting/transfers, no involvement with violent or high risk infectious patients) but I know our frontline ambulance staff are automatically taken off the road when pregnant. They are usually given admin work such as delivering training workshops and doing audits, PR stuff like school visits and careers workshops, helping with flu vaccination sessions etc. Hopefully your trust can find something like this for you.

Again, if you have a permanent contract with a ward (not bank) then yes they have to make reasonable efforts to redeploy you. On bank, none at all. We have some wonderful bank staff but if one of them broke their arm and couldn’t work, it has nothing to do with me.

Im in the ambulance service and currently redeployed into an admin role. We class it as ‘light duties’ so not an official redeployment as such. I’m surprised your trust doesn’t have something in place for you already because I doubt you are the first woman in this position. Like a PP said we are taken off immediately, I came off about 7 weeks (wish I had kept my mouth shut to be honest)

The admin/odd job role is mind numbingly boring but I have to keep reminding myself it is safer and it won’t last forever!! It also means I can work flexi time mon - fri with no night shifts, so that’s a bonus!! Hope they find somewhere suitable for you xxx