Ill health and Medicall Retirement

[shortwoman68]

I have a question, what is the grounds for you to be medically retired on the grounds of ill health.

 

I am currently employed however I have a medical condition called sacroiliac joint injury of which the characteristics are: Pain on the right of my lower back.

 

The pain ranges from an ache to a sharp pain which restricts my movement to the point where I cannot leave the house. If I leave the house, I walk for around 5 mins then experience pain in my back and legs and struggle to return home.

 

Experience difficulty turning over in bed, struggle to put on shoes and socks and sometime get pain when getting in and out of cars.

 

Have stiffness in the lower back when getting up after sitting for long periods and when getting up from bed in the morning.

 

Have difficulty climbing stairs and have been advised to avoid stairs and take the lift whenever possible.

 

This condition have now become worse since coming back from holiday into the cold which was -2 degrees at the time. My symptoms was extreme pain in both legs and my feet however I managed to go to work for over a week.

 

 

However I have now been off work since 13th December due to the extreme pain in my back and legs and have been told by my GP that it now appears that my condition has worsened and I have have a pinched nerve in my back which he feels has been exacerbated by the cold weather. Although I am feeling a bit better through taking three types of medication and trying to do some gentle exercise, I am fearful that my work place will take a negative view of yet another bout of sickness.

 

 

I have been told that I have had 99 days sickness since I have been with the company and I have been there 20 months. However when I initally started I was off for 5 weeks due to being injured during training. (I also have a screw in my clavicle and was injured during physical training).

 

I have injured my shoulder twice since being in work amounting to 6 weeks off. I have also been off with my back on two occasions lasting from one to two weeks, this is the third occasion. The other times have been colds and flu and sinusitus. (As I work in a private mental health hospital they discourage staff from coming in when they are unwell, however as we do not recieve company sick pay, many staff work whilst being sick)!

 

My company have already been advised that my back and shoulder fall under the DDA 1996.

 

 

I am concerned that my company may take the view that I am unable to work and consider dismissal due to my record of sickness or even feel that I should be medically retirement.

 

 

What is the implications of this as I do not want to be medically retired or even loose my job as I am only 44.

Any advice. :-(

Edited December 23, 2012 by citizenB
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[flumps1976]

I though that medical retirement was based on if you are capable of continuing with a current job or if an alternative job can be found to help you stay at work not just considered on your condition and diagnosis iygwim?

[shortwoman68]

When I first started with the company, I was employed as a Support Worker, however during physical restraint training, I injured my shoulder and they had to find me alternative employment as a receptionist/administrator. There are no other positions that I can move into unless I reduce my hours which I doubt they will do as I am the only receptionist and people are covering the second shift.

[honeybee13]

Hello there.

 

I'm not sure if you're asking about benefits or a work-related problem. If it's advice about your employer, your thread can be moved to the employment forum.

 

Maybe you could tell us what you're looking for please?

 

My best, HB

[shortwoman68]

Sorry that I have not been specific. I guess what I am asking is if my company decide to dismiss me due to ill-health even though I can work but the cold weather serious affects me, what can I do?

 

Also the worse case scenario is retirement on the grounds of ill health, which I very much doubt it will come to, but I just wanted to know what this would entail and how this would affect me.

 

Many thanks

[honeybee13]

Hello again.

 

I'm really sorry to be pedantic, but are you asking what benefits you would be able to claim if you were dismissed or what your employer may or may not be able to do because you're ill please?

 

HB

[shortwoman68]

It's ok.

 

I would like to know what benefits I would be entitled to.

What does ill health retirement mean or medical retirement.

What can I do if they decide on dismissal.

 

Many thanks