stupid, stupid NHS

resusjan

Well - long story, I'll try to cut it short.

Last year I was diagnosed with RA (age 41) and found it really hard to deal with (but I managed thanks to you lot).

Then, in December, was diagnosed with Pernicious anaemia, so thats another one to deal with (plus I've already got hypothyroid).

Throughout all of this I was still working full time as the Resuscitation Specialist in the hospital and studying for an Msc in Advanced Practice with the aim of working as a practitioner in the emergency departments.

So, in April, I had an interview for a Practitioner job. I arranged to do it on a trial for 6 months with my current job kept open for me to return to if my health suffered in the new role. All good so far

Well - last week - the occupational health department sent a letter out to a manager in the hospital saying that "Janet has a chronic condition which, whilst fit to work at present, may mean her fitness in the future will fluctuate". Thanks for that Mr Occupational Health Man. These details are supposed to be confidential and according to their policy, the screening is not supposed to predict future sickness but just how you are now. I have had no time off sick since being diagnosed. To make it worse, they weren't sure who the manager of the service was so sent it to every manager within the hospital. So, now, numerous people know confidential information about my medical condition. I was so angry I actually cried for the first time in ages .

Well, I sorted that out - the new manager was still happy to take me on, for the trial.

I was due to start this new job on Monday. Today - my manager EMAILED (didn't have the guts to see me) and said - they can't commit to releasing me right now and will get back to me in the next four weeks. :x

SO FED UP of it all right now. I have worked hard for the NHS for years and now it feels like they are trying their best to make sure I can't progress. I understand that I may not be able to work for as long as I want, but would have committed totally to the new role for as long as I could. Its not like they are saving any money - I already work for them, the pay wasn't any different either.

STUPID STUPID NHS

Thanks for letting me rant away

valval

well if you were to have a baby you would leave or get job with another hospital they are being very short sited contact new manager and see if the old one can stop you taking up this position val

mellman01

I'd think about starting to keep a diary and record a few day to day notes, and don't forget to record times and dates, and try and get things in writing as much as you can it's always useful to have it to hand just don't over use it keep your powder dry as much as you can you never know when you might need to remind them of what they have said or promissed you in the past, you might not ever need it but it's useful to know you've got it.

resusjan

Thanks both for your replies.

Mellman - I have printed out emails they sent me congratulating me on getting the secondment post and stating that they will be sad to see me go, but at least its only for 6 months.

I have also got a copy of the form they signed agreeing to release me on 11th April.

The trouble is - where I live there is only one hospital within a 30 mile radius, the next nearest one is 60 miles away, so its rather limiting for professional development here.

I've been thinking about it and am going to email the manager who's refusing to release me and copy the new manager into it, asking her to confirm when they will be releasing me to commence the new position as agreed in April. I think I'm going to have to push them for a date and see what response I get.

If I havent heard anything by Wednesday, I'm going to take all the paperwork over to personnel and ask for their advise, the next step then would be the RCN rep.

Valval - I will do that on tuesday and forward her all the emails that they have sent.

Funny thing is - they've even sent me an email asking if I want to go out to celebrate the new job!

janie68

Wow Jan, thats a serious breach of confidentiality on their part. I would as you say go & see your RCN rep. If the RCN don't complain/ take thngs further, than maybe contact RCN at higher level, there's a legal advice line you can phone also.

It's not surprising you are feeling low, it could be now a contact to your managers line manager. The NHS is not what it was, even 10 years ago, to do this to you so soon before your date of secondment would not have happened imo.

I hope that your manager is forced by HR to honour your secondment, as others say, the evidence will be the key here.

I am sorry that you have been treated this way, the whole experience must be pretty damn horrible.

Janie

resusjan

Thanks Janie,

I will definately be seeing HR to see if they can help out.

You're right, it has been horrible. As you all know, stress isn't too good for RA and its all given me major neck and headache and my hands are really swollen and painful tonight.

Its sad really, I've always stuck up for the NHS and for the hospital I work in. They are always asking us to work extra shifts to help out, especially over bank holiday weekends. I have told them I can't do any extra shifts this weekend so am taking the full 3 days off.

The cynical side of me thinks they are trying to see if theres a way to save some money. I'm wondering if they think I will resign to take the job offer but there is no way I'm going to do that. Things are just too unsettled in the NHS at the moment. Even though everyone keeps telling me the job will become permanent in 6 months time, I just can't afford to take the risk just in case!

Ahh well, at least I'll get some rest this weekend and be ready to start fighting them on Tuesday morning.

sugarbuttie

Just a tip for you for future....

I have had to see Occy Health recently. There was an option for me to see every letter they sent to my employer first. I ticked it. Anyhow...I got a 'preview' letter & it said something that NO WAY would I want my employer to see. So I requested they change it (which they dutifully did) & an amended letter got sent with no reference to what I did not want them to read.

Just cos you have seen OH does not mean thay have to tell your employer EVERYTHING about you. Mine just put that I had a 'chronic condition' that was being successfully treated by 'various medications' by the consultant. You see...I am giving nothing away here and neither did my OH. You need to tick that you want to see things first and they will change it if you not happy x

resusjan

Thanks for that tip Sugarbuttie, I'll check that out and definately tick the box.

I'm still nor further forward with starting my new job though - My managers manager is the one who's holding everything up and won't give me a date when she will release me, even though she approved the secondment on 29th March.

I have spoken to HR and they said that there's not much they can do about it. I get the impression, from my (almost) new manager that, if she isn't given a start date for my by Thursday, the job offer will be withdrawn!

Its so Bl---y annoying - I've had no time off sick from work, I work Bl---y hard, and now they are trying to stop me moving forwards. I've had enough now - I'm going to be stuck in a job I don't enjoy for the next 20 years (if I can carry on working that long).

Its been so hard this weekend, especially without the forum. I keep telling myself that at least I've got a job and I know I should be grateful, but I just can't get over being offered the job of my dreams and some bl---y manager having the power to stop me doing it.

I have decided that, if they screw this up for me, I will lodge an official complaint - there is NO WAY they are getting away with treating me like a posession rather than a person.

There I go again, upsetting myself, its certainly not doing the RA any good - my hands, feet, knees hurt and I've got a big fat ugly coldsore on my lip!

freesia

I totally agree with JANIE68...

That sounds like a "TOTAL" breach of confidentiality....

Keep records of everything... and report this...!!!

................

Also interesting note to read about being able to read your occupational health letters and being able to make amendments, good tip - thanks...

liesa

dont know much about these sort of things but Good Luck xx