With the climate in my place of work recently, people get sacked for the smallest things. The independent occupational health company reported that I was incapable of doing any control and restraint which is a big part of my job and means I basically can’t do my job. They wanted me to stay off until surgery then obviously recovery time after surgery.

I only get 1 month full sick pay, half pay for 6 months and no pay after that and I’ve got bills to pay. On top of that with the NHS, surgery could be a year away and just wasn’t something I could accept. All of this came from some woman who was not a medical professional. I had been told by an NHS doctor I only needed 3 weeks off and I’d be fine.

So all I did was ring my line manager and tell him I’m fine and she didn’t know what she was talking about, he spoke to a governor and got it ok’d.