Long tterm sick due to heart attack

[tjacksonpfc]

Hello I've been asked by my husband to post this on his behalf as he is not well enough himself.

He has been a postman with Rm for 10 years now. He had a massive heart attack 9 weeks ago and was imediatly fitted with a stent. He is now awaiting further treatment possibly a triple heart bypass. When he was released from hospital I took a fit to work note into the office for him and handed it to his DOM. It was taken off of me and nothing more was said she didn't ask how he was or anything.

We took a further fit to work note in last week signing him off for another 8 weeks. We have also taken in all letters that we have been given by the cardiac consultants that he is under.

No-one from his office have been intouch other than when i have taken information in to them, Out of the blue yesterday he recieved a phone call from OH ASSIST stating that they had been asked by his DOM to perform a fit to work assesment on him. All of his notes have states that he is unfit to work in any capacity he is to have total rest.

We have not heared at any point that this procedure was going to happen. We have tried speaking to B&H but they are of no help where do we go from here as this stress is making things worse.

[Lounge Lizard]

Hopefully you will have kept copies of all you've handed to the DOM.
If the facts are explained to OH ASSIST they will most likely readily accept that he is NOT fit for work.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Terrible way to handle it though - no personal contact.

Thats the difference between a Manager and a Leader.

I'll confirm what Lounge Lizard says that OH Assist will probably back up the diagnosis so I wouldn't get to worried about it. As to the manager, he is technically probably following the correct procedure, just that they forget we are not numbers we are real people.

I hope your husband recovers fully.

If he is in the Union it might be worth contacting his branch H&S and Equalities officers, they may be able to help reduce/improve the contact with work.

[dvbuk55]

Hello I've been asked by my husband to post this on his behalf as he is not well enough himself.

He has been a postman with Rm for 10 years now. He had a massive heart attack 9 weeks ago and was imediatly fitted with a stent. He is now awaiting further treatment possibly a triple heart bypass. When he was released from hospital I took a fit to work note into the office for him and handed it to his DOM. It was taken off of me and nothing more was said she didn't ask how he was or anything.

We took a further fit to work note in last week signing him off for another 8 weeks. We have also taken in all letters that we have been given by the cardiac consultants that he is under.

No-one from his office have been in touch other than when i have taken information in to them, Out of the blue yesterday he recieved a phone call from OH ASSIST stating that they had been asked by his DOM to perform a fit to work assesment on him. All of his notes have states that he is unfit to work in any capacity he is to have total rest.

We have not heared at any point that this procedure was going to happen. We have tried speaking to B&H but they are of no help where do we go from here as this stress is making things worse.

It's not surprising things are worse and this just highlights exactly what RM Managers think of their employees. I trust your husband is in the union and that he has a union rep at his workplace and you need to contact him/her, if not contact the branch office and request a visit to put forward how your husband has been treated - which is absolutely disgraceful.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

2 threads merged

[FinishOnTime]

OH Assist shouldn't have been contacted at all without your husbands consent. This should be made clear to the manager at the earliest possible opportunity.

The only conversation your husband should be having with any manager should be about how long he might be off work and an AGREED frequency and nature of contact in the meantime. That's it. If OH and his doctor end up disagreeing about what he can/can't do, then they should liase, and if possible come to an agreement. Until that happens, he shouldn't go back to work.

[rehabron]

Would endorse the threads of TBT and Lounge Lizard Dom is following correct procedure by notifying OH Assist as to your husband's absence however annoying and unnecessary it is in relation to your husbands absence for them to get involved.
However if you feel that the standard initial 20 minute telephone interview from OH Assist to reaffirm your husband's medical condition could cause him further stress and aggravate his present condition inform RM that your husband is unable to take their calls until he feels he can cope.
Emphasise to RM when you contact them that they are not assisting your husband by pestering him with procedures and in fact are having a detrimental effect on his wellbeing.
Hope your husband makes a full recovery and is left in peace to recover.

[5plusbonusball]

Can a heart attack be called an AOD because no doubt the workload and stress contributed to it ?? If so it looks like he's damaged his doms bonus. Sheer disregard for the staff. Get him well soon but let him take his time.

[k979aaa]

Can a heart attack be called an AOD because no doubt the workload and stress contributed to it ?? If so it looks like he's damaged his doms bonus. Sheer disregard for the staff. Get him well soon but let him take his time.

I would say it could be not an AOD but it is definitely wrong to put someone under more duress by opting them in without consent and the managers should be held to account but the business does not have time for compassion only greed!

[tjacksonpfc]

The dr and consultant believe that the heart attack could well have been brought on my stress from work. His DO have been working memebers of staff short for months and they are only a small office. So the DOM has been pileing the pressure on for them to lapse and cover the shortage but it is a case of proving things.

[steve1812]

Hello having read your post on your husband and his ill health may i wish your husband a speedy recovery and you both a stress free lifetime in the future , it makes me angry and sad that your husband and countless others in royal mail have to go though all the pressure and stress ending in heart attacks or worse.

I don't know if there is a health check system in royal mail to guard against stress related illnesses ,maybe someone on this forum could point us all in the right direction and from all the posts i hope you and your husband are now getting all the help and support you need and above all don`t be bullied into returning to work only go back when you husband is fully recovered and the doctor says he is ok to do so . All the best to you both and if you need help and you cant get it from your branch of royal mail please use this forum and i`m sure someone with the right advice will be able to help you.

[Stammerking]

I discovered i had a tumour in my chest after breaking a couple of ribs,was told it was not going to be a good outcome. Kept things to myself but a 1 week before the op i decided my head was not in the right place and went sick and explained the situation to them. One day after the op wired up in intensive care I get a phone call from ATOS wanting to talk about getting me back to work, unbelievable but true, when I explained the beeping noises the were very apologetic!
Did not rush back 2 months off work and a month on light duties but felt guilty with regular letters and phone calls!
The outcome was good in the end and I,m still clear
Hope your fella gets well soon and do not let them harass you back to quickly

PICS EDITED BY POSTMAN

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[5plusbonusball]

Jeez , my chest pains started after a bad chest bash when I fell on the ice last year , hope I don't have one of those, still on naproxen for pain, xray clear.

[Sir Henry]

You may want to edit your post and crop the photo to remove any identifying information. Utterly spiteful pieces of human garbage like to cause aggro over any online activity.

[k979aaa]

The dr and consultant believe that the heart attack could well have been brought on my stress from work. His DO have been working memebers of staff short for months and they are only a small office. So the DOM has been pileing the pressure on for them to lapse and cover the shortage but it is a case of proving things.

Still not an AOD but stress is prevalent in royalmail at this time it is not acceptable that this should lead to your condition as we could all end up with the same fate as you. AOD are sometimes made incidents so the likely hood of your chances are not good I know of postmen who have fell down icy steps being made incidents.