Staff Testimonials

I work as a community matron within Islington. My role includes home visits, long patient reports, referrals and assessments. There are also 3-hour MDT meetings that require a lot of prior screen-based preparation and post MDT computer-based work.

 

Some of the challenges before having adjustments included carpel tunnel syndrome which made my fingers wrists and arms painful swollen and inflamed. I have multiple joint pain which includes back pain so carrying equipment and some of the chairs in the office was difficult. Along the way I developed severe fatigue and other symptoms that made work challenging. I was diagnosed with Long COVID.

 

After being diagnosed with Long COVID in a 1:1 with my manager he suggested that I contact Access to Work for assistance. Access to Work provided me with transport to help me get to work and to patients’ homes. This is in the form of a taxi. To help with documentation I have been given a soft touch keyboard, an upright ergonomic mouse, dictation equipment and software.

 

With the help of the IT department and funding from the centralised budget I was able to get appropriate training to use the dictation software and a digital writing pad that reduces the effort of taking notes and load that I need to carry around. I had input to help identify aides that can help with my day to day working, such as a computer eye protection screen to help reduce headaches and fatigue.

 

The different teams, back care, occupational health and IT helped by explaining my challenges and what was available to help the situation and allow me to be at work to my manager. The input from Occupational health has allowed my managers to understand the challenges I face. This has helped reduce the anxiety to worrying about not coping and falling sick again.

 

Other adjustments that were implemented through my manager and Human Resources are working from home where possible. I needed to submit the flexible working form and discuss the work with my manager, with input from the service manager. We discussed the work I could do to continue valuably contributing to the service while working flexibly.