Just wanted to say hi to everyone and Happy Friday!
Not sure where to start, so I’ll try what I think is the beginning!
I woke one morning as normal and to start work from home as I had been for the last week after recovering from a knee problem. I logged in, but after a time noticed something like a brain fog in not being able to understand some words or sentence’s in my email but didn’t really think much of it although I do remember doing a search on dyslexia thinking it may be that. I had also been experiencing some headaches over the last few days\week leading to this. I noticed it got worse over the next day and couldn’t even complete a simple sentence when on a call with work, trying to go around working out what I was trying to say and finish the sentence.
Eventually I went to UC after my wife noticed and had a CT scan and they kept me in for an MRI scan after the bank holiday. I was told that I’d be going to the specialised stroke dept but that didn’t happen and I was sent home after visits from the therapists and Dr’s in the hospital and then I was contacted by the Community Therapist team for ongoing support. They’ve been great but must admit I wasn’t happy being sent home originally and didn’t see the stroke\neurovascular consultant at the specialised unit until my therapist requested an appointment before being discharged.
Sorry for the lengthy post, fast forward and this is where I’m now stuck! I’ve been discharged by my therapists and the stroke team have signed me off but my work HR team are requesting a note that explicitly states that I’m fit to return to work but it’s not something my GP surgery say they will or should be providing. The therapists are not going to provide either so not sure where to turn to next unless it comes from the letter from the stroke consultant\team that I saw last week and still awaiting for at the moment?
I seem to be going around in circles and have a holiday booked which was booked months ago. Not sure if i should be worried that I’m not going to be able to return to work?
Here’s the short and friendly truth: you’re not stuck because of you – you’re stuck because the hospital, GP, and HR aren’t talking to each other. That’s their problem, not yours.
The simple fix? That letter you’re waiting for from the stroke consultant? That’s the one HR actually needs. Not the GP’s, not the therapists’. So don’t chase the GP – chase that consultant’s secretary on Monday morning. Ring them, be polite but firm, and say: “My job is on the line – can you please push that letter through?” Secretaries are magic – they get things done.
In the meantime, just email HR and say: “Waiting on my stroke consultant’s official letter – will send it as soon as I get it. Happy to chat about a phased return if needed.” That buys you time and makes you look proactive, not difficult.
And please – go on your holiday. Seriously. Your brain needs rest more than it needs paperwork. You’ve had a stroke, not a cold. You’re allowed to breathe.
Also? The fact that they discharged you from therapy is actually good news – it means they think you’re doing well enough. So don’t panic about never working again. Most people do go back – just maybe not full hours straight away, and that’s totally normal.
One step at a time. You’ve got this. And if HR gives you grief, just remember – the law’s on your side (Equality Act – stroke counts as a disability, so they have to be reasonable). Good luck, Pando
Hi & welcome to the community @GFC sorry to hear of your stroke.
If you are based in the UK then it is usual for a GP to issue a fit note to sign you off work but are you saying that your employer is requesting something to say that you will be able to return at some point? If so, then that is difficult because nobody knows how you will recover at this stage. You don’t say when you had your stroke so not sure how long you have been absent from work.
Has your employer offered you an Occupational Health referral? If not, ask for one. That will help guide them on your likelihood of returning to work & what adjustments you may need to help you return.
I agree with Pando on contacting the consultants secretary to ask for the letter.
I also agree that you should go on your holiday if you are able. If you’re flying check with your GP that it is ok to fly. It usually is after a few weeks but that may depend on type / severity of stroke. You may need a fit to fly letter - but that depends on your holiday provider.
Thanks Rups…I thought that would be the case but I’ve tried a couple of times and on both occasions they said it was down to an employment assessment by their OH Therapists initially.
@pando That’s great, pretty much where I’m at at the moment. I’ve been through the phased return to work with the OC therapist and passed the discharge note to my HR team and have kept them up to date with everything and also let them know that I’m awaiting the letter from the stroke team\consultant. I was just hoping to get things ready for when I return from my holiday . I know the SAL therapist has also contacted the stroke team\consultant secretary so I’ll ask for an update tomorrow before we go away.
Thanks @Mrs5K , I’m in the UK and have contacted both my GP and the stroke consultant and both said I’m fine to fly so that shouldn’t be a problem. Where I work is pretty small and we don’t have an onsite OH team so a referral maybe a good idea, they’ve been great for me so far but just the fit for work note that’s a stumbling block at the moment really. I may just have to follow up after returning from my holidays.
Hi and welcome @GFC reading this a few times and it seems there may be some communication issues with your HR team and GP. If they require a fit note your GP should issue this on say 4 weekly basis as it’s clear you are recovering from a major trauma to your brain.
I can only say from personal experience and working in the care sector with overlap at times this would be normal. I have been discharged twice from hospital with a fit note for 4 week with the word stroke , my GP then changed this to reflect stroke is an acquired brain injury.If this is done correctly you should only need to seek advice when you are feeling fit enough to return say a monthly telephone appointment to conform how you are recovering.
I’m in Scotland and have been treated in 3 separate NHS authorities eventually all notes arrived to my GP and community neuro team, not smoothly at times my employer accepted fit notes as did HR and OH. Maybe phoe back your GP and see if they will issue a fit note to the date of your stroke these van be backdated. As others have said ACAS or a trade union can maybe offer support.
If you are well enough go and take that holiday, relax and enjoy but equally and sorry to be a killjoy of it’s somewhere nice abroad make sure your covered with travel insurance, seen first hand the US system and was shocked. Finally to end my essay very best in your recovery journey.
The only thing I would add in all this is to ensure you’ve told your insurance company and they know about your stroke before you fly out. They may refuse to cover you so get that sorted as a matter of urgency.
@Jbob , thanks for the information, I’ll see if I do manage to receive the note from the stroke team\consultant whilst I’m away and maybe speak to my HR again. I’ve made sure that we’re covered with the travel insurance, that’s one thing I’ve not left having seen horror stories in the past.
Thanks @2Weevils , as I mentioned previously, travel insurance is one thing I’ve seen horror stories of in the past so have made sure that we’re covered well for this
Yes, I’ve had my own experience quite recently, of trying to claim for a cancelled holiday due to my wife’s illness. Had to jump through a number of hoops, argue with them on the phone, send in numerous bits of paper, and then they reluctantly paid out minus 9.27% because we hadn’t told them about a condition they believed my wife suffered from, but which we had failed to declare.
And we had failed to declare it because we didn’t know she had it, but a doctor had decided she did, just not told us what he had put on her records!
What was an appalling experience you’ve had, it just goes to show what a postcode lottery brain injury treatment and Rehab is in the UK, as it couldn’t be further from the story of the excellent support I have been lucky enough to have: https://youtu.be/btOHcdD30Wk?si=q2XPgquR4d3UVq6l
. I know the SAL therapist has also contacted the stroke team\consultant secretary so I’ll ask for an update tomorrow before we go away.