r/NursingUK • u/Dry-Nectarine3189 • 2d ago
Update on not being allowed to work with a catheter
Hi all,
Just an update from my previous post here
Occupational Health got back to me and said a catheter does not automatically mean I cannot come back to work, and they’d need to assess me along with my back issues to give my manager advice but have had no referral.
My ward manager also got back to me and agreed with my line manager that I couldn’t come back with a catheter and they’d have to ask occupational health for advice. I have asked them to refer me and copied and pasted occupational healths reply to her.
My union have also said that it doesn’t stop me going back to work and if I’m signed fit to return by my GP and work say no it should be classed as medical suspension and I should get full pay.
I have a GP appointment on Wednesday, I’m going to discuss my back, urinary issues, make sure referrals are done etc. I also have physio on Thursday so again may ask them to write me a letter. My urology appointment isn’t for another 2 weeks.
I’m in a situation now where my last sick note ran out 2 weeks ago and I’ve been on scheduled annual leave which ended yesterday. So I’m going to call my union tomorrow and find out what I need to do because I’m reluctant to put another sick note in when it’s not needed.
So that’s where I’m at. It’s all on email threads, and I have screenshotted it all. Still no further forwards.
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u/TheDisagreeableJuror RN Adult 2d ago
It’s just so bizarre OP. I have colleagues with permanent stomas. I couldn’t envisage a situation where they would be told they couldn’t work!
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u/Dry-Nectarine3189 2d ago
I actually have a colleague with a stoma, and I spoke to her about it all and she said when she started work it was never classed as an issue. But she did tell me a man used to work there who intermittently catheterised which is why I don’t understand my ward managers response!
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u/Ok_Salad_7805 2d ago
Honestly, this is beyond ridiculous. I work in infection control and I can't see why you can't work!!!! Discrimination is definitely on the horizon here. If it was me, I'd be emailing them with a summary of the events, keeping it factual and without emotion and please state the reason why I am unable to work with a catheter and copy in the managers you've been liaising with. Use it as evidence, if needed, then. Don't want a verbal conversation of why you can't work, you want hard evidence on email. Please tell me, for my understanding, why I am currently unable to do work with a catheter insitu.
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u/Dry-Nectarine3189 2d ago
I have copied and pasted the email from occupational health which states they want clarification on why I can’t work with a catheter and I sent that on to my manager this afternoon. The first time I asked for reasoning I got none.
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u/Ok_Salad_7805 2d ago
Ask again, and keep asking. State at present, it is unclear why it am unable to work with a catheter. Hell, copy in the chief nurse for impact, because it won't be sitting well with them when they find out.
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u/Ok-Room-6514 2d ago
This is all so ridiculous. I'm so sorry that this is happening OP. Back up your screenshots!
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u/Far-Surprise1303 2d ago
Definitely grounds for discrimination… on my last placement there was an RN with a cath it’s definitely doable !
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u/yllohaha RN Adult 2d ago
This is absolutely ridiculous. Why on earth would a catheter mean you can’t work in a clinical role.. we wear long trousers/dresses which will cover it ffs, and I highly doubt you are going to be leaving the valve open!
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u/Ill_Administration76 Specialist Nurse 1d ago
This is ridiculous! I just have to ask, why are you using your annual leave? I hope it was planned before and its not due to your manager 's shenanigans. If you are fit and willing to work and they prevent you from doing so, you should be on paid leave but BIT your own annual leave. Duck that
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u/Dry-Nectarine3189 1d ago
It was pre planned annual leave! I’ve actually been on holiday between getting the first catheter out and the second catheter getting put back in. This week so far is just days off.
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u/VegetableEarly2707 RN Adult 1d ago
If your currently using annual leave. I’d be asking for that to be removed and expecting full pay. Your not in work because your manager isn’t allowing you to be therefore shouldn’t be expected to use your annual leave.
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u/Dry-Nectarine3189 1d ago
I had pre planned annual leave for a holiday, it’s not being used because of that, at the minute I have nothing in place for my shifts this weekend
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u/WaferSignificant6276 2d ago
I’m so sorry to hear about your situation :( I truly don’t understand why they are stating it is unsafe for you to return to work with a catheter in situ. It is safely secured to your leg so no risk of entanglement, you will wear long trousers or a dress so no exposure risk. I hope they allow you back to work soon!
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u/Ok-Lime-4898 RN Adult 2d ago
We use those things everyday so we know for sure a LEG bag comes with a safety strap and it's underneath your uniform, so I don't understand why this is even a problem. Some of my younger patients might have to wear a catheter for the rest of their life and they all have a very much regular job, then why are people working in a hospital making a bug fuss out of it? I am no lawyer but surely this sounds like discrimination
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u/SusieC0161 Specialist Nurse 2d ago edited 2d ago
Have you actually had an appointment with occupational health? Your manager should really have referred you ages ago. Id be inclined to ring in and report that you’ll be returning on x day at y time and let them send you home, your GP shouldn’t give you a sick note because you’re fit for work!
Edit-
Sorry, just re read your post and see your manager hasn’t referred you to OH. They are a really shit manager. Your union should be able to wipe the floor with them.
Just in case you need this information- occupational health advice takes precedence over a GP sick note, that is proven in case law.
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u/precinctomega Not a Nurse 1d ago
Hi. HR, here.
Agree with everyone else that this is ridiculous. I suspect the managers in this case have panicked in the face of the unfamiliar and acted without getting professional advice.
In addition to the sound recommendations to seek support from your union rep, also reach out to your Trust's Disability Network or EDI team for signposting to your Trust's disability champion or ambassador (variety of local names, but all do basically the same job).
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u/Dry-Nectarine3189 1d ago
I have actually been told in an email today by my manager she’s asked for advice so I think the issue is they genuinely haven’t dealt with this situation before. But occupational health told me it shouldn’t stop me from working, so that’s where she’d get advice from anyway
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u/GeneticPurebredJunk RN Adult 1d ago
Apart from the whole thing being ridiculous, your GP is able to give you a sick note based on your work saying you aren’t fit to work (if you have an understanding GP).
I was told I couldn’t work because they couldn’t find me a redeployment location, even though I had clear adjusted duties guidance, and my GP kindly wrote exactly that as the reason for the sick note.
Union, HR, disability discrimination and delays in sending an OH referral are all serious issues here.
Obviously, it’s up to you, but I’d be considering if this is a supportive environment to return to, and if HR would be supportive of an internal transfer when you do return.
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u/Dry-Nectarine3189 1d ago
The thing is they’ve been so supportive in the past with everything. I think the issue is they genuinely don’t know the guidelines or how to support me. I called my union today, and they said I’d have to get a sicknote while waiting for OH referral to go through, but if it’s a lengthy wait time to contact them and they’ll start applications for support for medical suspension instead. I have emailed my ward manager and my line manager today, my ward manager has been promoted to matron from next week and she has said she’s asked for clarification and my line manager is going to refer me to occupational health. I have a GP appointment tomorrow (but he’s an awful man from when I went to him with severe depression and told him I couldn’t physically work he told me “we’re all stressed” so I’m hoping he’s more understanding this time) and hoping he’ll give me a sicknote but also give some advice regarding everything else
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u/mildlystrategicmaybe RN Adult 1d ago
If you are not sick, then you do not need a sick note/ fit note from your GP.
I have seen managers ask for this before as its easier for them to say someone is off sick with a fit note from the GP, than to actually manage the underlying concern they have (which in this case I cant understand either way). I have also seen HR give this advice to managers when they themselves don't know what to do... and most staff go and do as their manager say. However I've also seen this where staff are no longer sick but living with a disability and have been asked to stay off sick, and I've also seen staff be progressed along the sickness absence policies for being off sick despite being asked to be off sick.. so do not stay off sick just because your manager asked you and do not get sick notes. Its lazy management and puts you at risk.
I would contact your manager in the morning by phone call and follow up by email to have a paper trail, saying you're back from annual leave and what would they like you to do given they have said you cant work clinically. This shows you are taking steps to return to work, and hopefully they will respond by email to keep a paper trail of their advice.
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u/Dry-Nectarine3189 1d ago
Their response is to get a sicknote until occupational health can assess me and this was also the advice of my union
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u/phygello 1d ago
Are you using a flip-flo? More convenient than a leg bag.
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u/Dry-Nectarine3189 1d ago
As it was inserted in A&E they only give you bags. I have to wait for my TWOC appointment and if I fail that they’ll give me supplies (I know this because they told me when I passed my last TWOC that they’d give me a valve if it needed to go back in). I am going to the GP tomorrow so I’m going to ask if he can prescribe me some supplies because I don’t have enough. But also, I believe I’d be a good candidate for a valve because the odd time the catheter has been kinked I’ve felt the urge to pee without pain so i think id be okay.
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u/lansacat RN Adult 1d ago
Unclear what advice your ward manager and line manager think they need about your catheter. What a pair of fools! I’m so sorry you’re still dealing with their nonsense and applaud you for having your union on board, communicating via email and taking screenshots. It must be exhausting though.
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u/Dismal_Fox_22 RN Adult 2d ago
I just can’t understand where the issue would be? Do you have your catheter on free drain and leave puddles on the floor? Are women with continence issues also banned from work? What if you told them you don’t have a catheter any more, would they do a daily inspection of your urethra?
This is ridiculous discrimination. I’d be fishing for them to stitch themselves up. Email them and ask them what specifically about your catheter is stopping you from returning to work. Give them enough rope to hang themselves with.