Totally stressed, MH affected. Go sick?

[LD91]

I work in quite a stressful job so am used to the high expectations of me but over the last month things have gotten way out of hand.
My line manager is fully aware of the issues I have and that I have been referred for counselling due to the affect on my MH. That is starting in mid Jan but now my line manager has been told he cannot travel from his office to mine at all to support me. Lots of other things have happened this week but that is the straw that broke the camels back. Just thinking about going in tomorrow is making me feel physically sick.
My mat leave starts 25th Feb. Have had other health issues so am on a review for sickness, do I go on sick leave until mat leave or advise HR I want to start mat leave earlier. Either way pay will be affected and OH’s wages won’t cover bills etc.
Please help a tired stressed out mum/mum to be

Can you take some holiday and think it through? You don’t want this hanging over you during mat leave.
You only have another 2 months so going off sick wouldn’t be too bad but could you wait until after Christmas?

Have your previous illnesses been pregnancy related Op? I'm unsure whether they can discipline you for that. (I genuinely don't know, but gut says they can't)

Did you do a risk assessment for your role during pregnancy? If so, could you ask for a review of it, to help you get measures in place to help manage your stress levels and provide you with the support you need to do your job?

Or would it be possible to see your GP for a fit note to say that you can work but only in x, y, z situation e.g. with on-site support, or a reduced workload, reduced hours etc? It would stop you perhaps having to have a pay reduction from being off, while still getting your situation on record and also hopefully going some way to resolving it. This would probably only work if your employer is pretty switched on, and I know it wouldn't fly where I currently work.

I work in the NHS so no leave from now til beginning of Jan so taking leave isn’t an option.

Had risk assessment where these issues have been documented and was reviewed yesterday, issues still not resolved but nothing my manager can do.

Only 1 absence was pregnancy related. It wouldn’t be a dismissal but an investigation which I would prefer to avoid. Contract is also unclear on when LTS payment would be from as have used all short term paid sick hours. Are there any standard guidelines on this or will it be company policy, one which conveniently I can’t find.

It's difficult to advise you without all the detail but it sounds like what you want to do is not go to work due to something specific that has happened (the "straw that broke the camels back" comment).

I cant advise you to use sick leave for that, to avoid resolving things at work, because the problem won't go away. Can you get some support from Occ Health or HR, instead?

You mentioned your manager can't travel over to your location to support you. What are you expecting them to do as I'm not clear ( and maybe they aren't either) what they need to do for you. Could you still try to get their support via a scheduled conference call/Skype so at least you can have a proper conversation about your concern. That shows you're at least trying, otherwise it just looks like avoidance if you sign off sick.

Is your stress caused by excessive workload, or is it the content of your role? Those are the type of things you could talk about specifically with your manager, because you could have the ability to get support if your workload is seen to be extreme and you have pg-related health issues.

You can't be disciplined for pg sickness absence provided your GP has clarified it is.