Teaching with asthma

[halfdeer]

In light of the decision made by the government yesterday I'm wondering whether teachers with asthma should be at work?

I'm really keen to do my part in keeping everything running but I'm also concerned about my own health. This year has been particularly bad in terms of my lung health, with three chest infections and flare ups of asthma since November. What would everyone recommend?

I plan on speaking to my Head today but understandably he's very busy at the moment! Live and work in Outer London and no confirmed cases of Covid-19 at the school as far as I'm aware...

I emailed my head today to say that as I have chronic heart failure caused by cancer treatment, I will need to work from home from next week.
Got this in reply. Passive aggressive much?

Whenever I watch the press conferences the message is very much you strongly need to follow this advice - no idea if Heads watch! Unfortunately until it is ‘you must’ (which it may never be) there is this grey area where people are left unsure. My head has agreed that I can be at home but I do worry how I will be perceived in the future and if it will be held against me. I constantly wonder if I should just ignore the advice and just going in!

and just go in - up since the early hours again!

Yeah the advice isn't that clear at all. Everyone is "advised" to work from home where possible, and people with asthma are "strongly advised" to do so. Obviously, not everyone can so that leaves people in a difficult position. A supportive manager would send you home, but in fairness heads must be overwhelmed ATM. I hope things are easier for you with the closures OP.

So it has now been made clear to me that I am expected to be at work on Monday - with the idea being we will see the lay of the land and then be part of a rota (week on, week off I think?)

Feeling slightly resentful that my medical needs aren't being considered at all. But also feeling guilty for having these thoughts - we all need to pull together and do what we can for the children?

Feeling very muddled, anxious and a bit upset.

Contact your union. What's sort of school is it?

It's just hit me that if social isolation is likely to be carrying on for a year or more, we may not be back in the classroom for a long time. Beyond sept. And in sept is when I start to have to be careful regarding viruses. June and July Is when my lungs are so much better though I'm still vulnerable to a virus.

I'm thinking pay may reduce after a certain time, or sabbaticals offered?

Hello all. Does anyone know anything about vulnerable relatives? My husband is in 3 at risk categories.
Meanwhile I am signed off sick until after Easter. All my medical treatment has been canceled so I'm no better.
Like others I feel really guilty about it.

Bsmirched
Your Head is an utter arsehole

@halfdeer no! Absolutely not go into work on Monday. The advice is literally in black and white. Contact your union if needs be and they will support you. You can not go to work right now.

I've had a bit of a to-do with my boss over this this week. Particulary annoying that the trust sent pregnant staff home as 'at risk' but put nothing in place for staff who are in other at risk categories.

I've had advice from my doctor, the gov site, the union and they all say stay at home if you can. Surely, when most kids aren't now in that should be possible.

There would be two things you could show your head.
One is the asthma.org uk info page of their most recent advice.

The other is the advice on the NAHT (not sure what union your head would be in). I know mine would rather ignore teaching union advice, but surely they shouldn't ignore their own!

Their site says.
How should I support members of staff classified as ‘vulnerable people’?

As the government has now stipulated that this group should stay at home, NAHT’s view is that they should not be coming into school.

Despite me saying I was at risk, and despite him seeing me very poorly at Christmas with a chest infection and my asthma, he has not really considered me, or any of our asthmatic staff as at risk.

When I tol him my doctor's practice had recommended I worked at home, he was curt and said something along the lines of - well schools won't have as many pupils in soon so you'll be less at risk.

I have sought further advice and officially told them on Friday that all the various sources of advice say work from home if at all possible and have officially requested it. After being told time and time again that the decision rests with me.

DH has asthma and I've been concerned about it, but evidence indicates that it alone does not increase risk of severe disease with coronavirus. However you have had several lung infections this year, this is different! You need to stay home. Straight away.

Check out the advice on the Navy's site to CV. It does tell heads they shouldn't have vulnerable staff in school.

NAHT

@ElizabethMainwaring

I have a vulnerable child at home who is very young. His vulnerability is part of a long standing health condition he was born with and one that my HT is aware of as I have needed time off for surgeries, hospitalisations etc. I’ve been told I can work at home. I’m not sure how it would work with other adults but I can’t social distance from or take precautions around a toddler.

NEU guidance says you should not have to go in if you care for a vulnerable person.

@Useruseruserusee
Thank you for that. All the best.

I'm a bit anxious now that the current briefing specifying letter sent home might mean that anyone asthmatic without one is expected in to work.
I havent had a hospital appointment in the last year although the prior year I had to go to a&e for oxygen. I take steroids every day. Am I severe enough? I can just see my academy trust saying that without a letter I need to be in to be paid.

Gov advice is to socially distance stringently if asthmatic, and work from home if at all possible.
NEU says that means they assume you have withdrawn from going to the classroom.
NASUWT say that 'a good employer will not expect you to go into work'
And the head's union says they assume that the heads are not having vulnerable people in who need to distance.

The higher level who need shielding is another matter entirely. Without this letter, you'd still be expected to distance.

That makes me feel better, thankyou! I am struggling with feeling guilty at not being in and worrying about what happens if I do!

I'm in exactly the same position. I was off with flu a couple of weeks ago. I returned last week and reminded my headteacher that my asthma was still bad. I'm waiting to see what she puts on the rota this week but feel I will need to say to her that I have asthma and is there a way to be working from home. What are you thinking op?

www.asthma.org.uk/advice/triggers/coronavirus-covid-19/

Fostair is listed which I'm on. I'm surprised and now need to get my head around this. I've got two young children at home with me. We are just going to have to all stay in.

@carrottopper
Direct your headteacher to the union advice - their own!
NAHT says that they should not be having vulnerable people in school, nevermind on any rota for contact with children.

We've got 10 children in so far but I have been allowed to work in an empty office.
My head seems to be taking my asthma a lot more seriously now. I think I'll be working from home come tomorrow.
How is everyone else faring? Isn't it ridiculous we're having to fight for permission to WFH? There is so much advice out there but Head's are still behaving as though we're shirking our responsibilities!