Depression Forums
Depression Related Forums => Depression Central => Topic started by: nicmci on March 14, 2012, 12:25:05 PM
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Hi guys. I'vethink I have been discriminated against at work. Have been dismissed from work as a staff nurse for alledged missing medication. The drug cupboards have not been locked (manage fault) and with approx 34 personel goes through ward each week. This is no evidence that I or anybody has taken anythink noboby has saw anyone and nobody has been caught with anything. I suppered a mederete to severe episode of depression from oct 2010 and made some drug errors in march (small ones but still my responsibility) didn't realise how ill I was . So I was suspended and rec counselling etc also have underactive thyroid. Was exausted all the time slurred speech. Normally full make up hair done coudnt be bothered. My friends were concerned. Now its sleeping tablets that have gone missing so because I'm the one that was exauted and slurred sppech. They have decided it was me. Even though when looking at drug error they accepted that I was ill and no concentration. . I received counselling through work too. I fell &$%+ about it I asked if full acess to cupboars and no physical evidence. Then what makes you point the fingure to me. It is because of my appearance at work my exaution. The symptoms of mt depression. They now just believe that I stolle sleeping taklets 10 boxes a week and this is why I was the way I was . I was dismissed in jan. Can believe it. Waiting on appeal. Thern tribunal. Am going for unfiar dismmissal and unlawful discrimination due to depression classed as disability. I'm gonna fight then just woundered if any one has been through similar. And tips advise knows a lot about tribunal. Etc. Look forward to your help nicky the nurse with no job!!x
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This seems absolutley ridiculous.... It is a massive (not to mention illegal) error on their part not to ensure that all drug cupboards/trolleys are locked. It sounds like they are somehow trying to cover for thier own mistakes.
I have no experience in discrimination but is there any evidence you could provide? Evidence from your doctor or copies of prescriptions to prove that you were ill? Also is there anyone at work who could confirm about the lack of safety and security at work? If thy are so lax on the storage of medication, are the MAR charts and/or controlled drugs register upto date and filled in correctly (I'm gonna hazard a guess that they aren't! Otherwise they would be able to see where drugs are going missing) I don't know if th organisation you work for has inspections from CQC or any body like that, but if it does, has anything previously been picked up on about the storage of medication?
Sorry... Lots of questions! But they are all avenues that may be worth looking into... If they are storing medication incorrectly then thats putting a lot of people at risk.
Good luck :) xx
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i am going through a discrimination tribunal myself atm, so will try to help where i can.
From the outset, it sounds that your employer has dismissed you because they believe that you took the sleeping pills, and the evidence of that is your behavior and their knowledge that you have suffered from a depressive illness before?
Have they stated this directly in any interview? Did they know of your previous illness and the reason behind your mistakes?
What was their explanation for the number of packs gone missing? Surely they cannot believe that you took them all?
It sounds unfair, because of their lack of evidence, and it sounds discriminatory because they have singled you out because of a previous illness.
The steps you HAVE to take next:
Appeal the dismissal.
Sucessfull or not raise a Grievance about how you have been treated.
If your Grievance is not upheld to your satisfaction, Appeal this decision.
If you wish to go to the Employment Tribunals, then you will have to fill out an ET1 and file it within 3 months of the dismissal/discriminatory event. This is very important if you wish to go to the Tribunal. It will take a long time for you to get wording right so if you feel strongly then start this now, but, when writing the ET1 you have to try to take all your emotion out of it, it is very hard.
There are lots of steps after this. The Tribunal route is stressful, very stressful and if you choose to represent yourself then it can lead to a lot of hard work and revisiting over and over again the injustice you feel has been done to you. Make sure you have a good set of people you can talk to, friends, relatives, doctors, therapists, all these people will help you.
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Thanks guy. Firsty. Its the nhs I worked for. The controlled drugs are ok. But from 2010 jan the drugs have increased phatmay deals wiith stock of our stock list drugs and they cont to put them up as they went. However if our was is using massively more night seadation than every other one on the surgical floor you would of thiught that alarm bells would rings some where. Pharmace y manager finance. But no. I think that to. There are other aveus. Took must drugs for perosnal use. If I was take all the zopicloine they said I would be dead . This has went on for ten mothw yes they have all doc letters oshahs and gp comfirmed I was suffering from moderate to sever depression at the time they have coppies of my prescription. I have been dignosed. And are aware thet I have both conditions. Its true I can't believe how mad all this is. And secondly yes they have said it directly to me the union and also to the disaplinery panel. When asked have you not considered that nickys symtoms are related to her illnesses ? He said no
No I think she's dishounest
Do you believe that nicky is displaying these symptoms soley due to theft of medication he said yes. At the last investigatory meeting I saked why me if the are access due to cupboard being open and there is no physical evidence then why me. They said it more likley to be you because you are the only one displaying symptoms like this. I have had union. And he is mental health. M but gonna bin him and use sols. As the other day I said to he if I had cancer nobody would disoute my symptoms. He said you can't compare those I was fumming. I said I can tell me what the difference if you commit suiside doe to depression or you die if cancer. Nothing your dead. That shut him up but not convices he's worth trusting for the next part. Have put in appeal alreay. Just waiting on a date. Also got form from the tribunal service today have until the 24th to submitt x. Thanks guy anything else you might think every tip etc welcome
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Sorry yes they did know I was put off work in march for ill health and went to counselling though ohsas through nhs it was thye week before I made the errors and I was disaplined in sep for it. And they accepted as that time I was ill and put measure in to support me at work x however while offif was to light that drugs have gone missing and its pointed to me. They have not held back that they thought it was me. 35 personl have access over the week 24 7. But will fight every way I can x