Its Jeannie, just reading the message from Jade, I too got your  email Ruth.....and its funny but I contacted  the Disabilty Rights today, really about myself in good old Blighty. (Jo, you will remember this one), and it will be useful to those working in the UK.....

 

must tell you the lead up first, each time since diagnosis (March 2000) I have gone off sick in work I have been marked as sick, and each time have exhausted my sick pay and ended up on 1/2 pay......a lot less pay ! but although that was a bit of a bummer, to me my sickness record worries me and I contacted the disability rights really about my sickness record in work, prior to TTP, my sickness record was virtually NIL......and now I have 10 months sickness in 2 years....looks terrible, and I know I am lucky (or stupid) to be back in full time work BUT I am concerned about my sickness record....

 

anyway during a training session on disabled people in the workplace I was informed that employees who have a long term illness should be granted "special leave" for treatment because its an illness........

 

anyway I have promised myself and Jo, that I would try and find out the truth behind this for all of us in the UK in employment......and today I was asked does TTP come under the criteria......well, to me yes it does, illness lasting 12 months ?  an illness which can effect your working day, ability to work shifts, long hours ? and I have found nothing but dead ends.....and mostly answers like, Is it cancer ? no well, erm I dont know if it applies to someone with erm TCP? so watch this space guys n dolls coz I am on a crusade !!!

 

well, its just got me going- so my next stop is the disabilty employment advice centre........

 

If TTP is not recognised we owe it to ourselves and others in the future (and like Ruth now) to wave the TTP flag, yes its rare, but there are still casualties who live with the after effects daily.

 

Speak soon......

Jeannie