Hi ladies,

Just needed a little advice from you.

Basically i have been off work now for a couple of months as i have been suffering from palpitations, after much investiagation and hospital stays, my gp has given me some beta blockers and has told me i can return to work but on the condtion that i stick to light duties (admin etc). My work are fine with this and sent me to see an occupational health doctor who examined me and said he was also happy for me to return to work. I saw the occ health doctor on the 21st October (the same day that my last sicknote ran out)

I still have not returned to work as various paperwork and final arrangements need to be made beforehand. HOWEVER (and this is the bit i need advice on) work are now saying that i need to provide another sicknote to cover form 21st onwards, but my dictor wont give me one because he says that he gave me the all clear to return to work.

So who is right and who is wrong? should my gp write me another sicknote? Bearing in mind that its only because my work are taking so long with paperwork that i'm not back already. Or should work take on board thatits no longer my health preventing me form work, just their protocols?

Any advice or opnions would be greatly recieved

Beth xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ok, I'm no expert, but IF your return is delayed because of your employer, then logically the onus is on them to hurry up and you shouldn't need a sick-note. Have you spoken to anyone in Occupational health or HR. I would have a chat with someone.

What is the delay? Have you done any chasing? Just to show that you are ready and willing to return?

Defo speak to someone in occupational health or HR.

Hope you feel better soon and that the change in your working duties help. What do you do btw?

Hi Jools, thanks for your reply.

I'm a nursing assistant at a private hospital,  i only do 12 hours a week, but because the job is physically demanding there is no way i am able to go back to my normal role until something is done about my heart.

TBH i've done most of the organising and chasing up myslef. I referred myself to occupational health and i'm the one who initiated and set up a meeting with my boss in order to discuss my coming back to work on a light duties basis.

Although i have worked at this hospital a year, up until July i was doing BANK (relief shifts covering sickness and annual leave) and have only recently started on the permanent contract. I did 2 shifts before going off sick! Luckily my boss and colleagues have all been really nice and understanding and they've all sung my praises about the work i do. I'm just a little nervous about putting the cat amongst the pigeons by not being able to provide certificates etc. I'm a people pleaser and i hate being a pain in the a** so the last thing i want is to be regarded as a nuisance.

It was the hR dept who had rung me up asking for a sicknote in the first place so i'm feeling alittle uneasy about things as surely they must know the laws etc regarding when i need to provide sick certificates.

Bethxxxxxxxxx

Hi Beth,

I've got no advice but just wanted to say I hope you get it sorted. It's pretty unfair HR have asked you for another certificate, surely they know the doctor can't issue you another one. I worry about stuff like that and what people are saying and thinking but you'll probably find it will be easily sorted and you've been worrying for nothing. DP is always saying to me "I told you there was no need to worry!"

Hi,

I used to work in the NHS and the irony always tickled me that they are cr*p when it comes to being off sick!!

Regardless of HR asking you for the note, I would call them, speak to a HR manager (not an advisor) and explain the situation. You've proved you've been the one initiating the return to work, so you really have nothing to worry about. Please don't feel you are being a nuisance. You are not. It is the system which appears to be at fault here and you won't be putting the cat amongst the pigeons at all.

Unfortunatly in my experience HR advice varies greatly, I'm not HR bashing, my role sat in the same directorate as the HR department so I got to know first hand how good and how bad some members of staff were!

Anyway, I hope you get this sorted out. Please don't worry, you aren't being difficult at all!

As for your palpatations, i hope you are seeing your GP again as being on beta blockers should be a short term thing for someone your age.

TC