MEDICAL MATTERS
- Medical Matters features questions asked by Members of the ME Association on health-related topics.
- Dr Charles Shepherd and the ME Association's other advisers answer these questions by sharing their expert knowledge.
- Medical Matters is based on the popular ‘Ask the Doctor’ series in ME Essential magazine.
- It is a free resource that supplements the detailed information contained in the full range of literature that can be found in the website shop.
Search all questions
Choose a letter to see our categories
- Show all
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G
- H
- I
- J
- K
- L
- M
- N
- O
- P
- Q
- R
- S
- T
- U
- V
- W
- Y
- EBV
- ECG
- ENT
- ESR
- Earache
- Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.
- Electrocardiogram
- Emotions
- Employer
- Employment
- Encephalomyelitis
- Endocrine System
- Endorphins
- Energy
- Energy Management
- England
- Enlarged Glands
- Enzyme
- Eosinophilia myalgic syndrome
- Epidemiology
- Epilepsy
- Epstein Barr Virus
- Equality Act
- Erythema Migrans
- Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate
- Exacerbation
- Examination
- Exercise
- Eyes
Questions in the Category: Employment
Employment dispute
I have been fortunate and reached a point where my condition has improved and been stable for some time. So I feel confident enough to try and return to my job on a part-time but flexible basis. I have discussed this with my GP and the occupational health department at work – both of whom agree that a phased return to work would be worth attempting. I have also had what I thought was a sympathetic appointment with the HR (human resources) department of the large company that I work for. However, I have now received a written summary of the proposed adjustments to the work I do and the way in which they intend to reduce and adjust my working hours – which are both OK.
Although the immediate reduction in hours on return is perfectly reasonable, my employers are working on what I believe is a totally unrealistic idea that I will return to work on a part-time basis and then progressively increase my hours over the next two to three months. They don't seem to understand that any further improvement or adjustment to returning to work if you have ME/CFS is going to be slow and unpredictable. So their plan for a rather inflexible and progressive increase in hours of work could actually cause a relapse in my condition.
What can I do apart from change my mind about trying to return to work?
Functional Capacity Assessments and Evaluations
I have been receiving regular payments over several years from an insurance-based Income Protection Policy. This comes as part of my employment package.
I also receive PIP benefit from the DWP – who accept that I have significant problems with both mobility and care. So I would have thought that this would be adequate on-going evidence of my disability.
The insurance company now want to send me for a functional capacity test to assess whether I am capable of working again. What will this involve?
Is this test a valid way of assessing capability for work if you have ME/CFS? And can I refuse to do so if I am not happy with the way I am going to be assessed?
Care and Support Plans
I very much welcome the recommendation in the new NICE guideline that everyone with ME/ CFS should have a personalised care and support plan. But is this actually happening in practice anywhere? I have been under the care of both my (very good) GP and a hospital-based ME/ CFS service for several years. But nobody has ever offered to prepare such a plan. And if I did have a care and support plan, who would prepare it and what would it consist of?
Employment: Disclosing Medical Information
Having made a significant degree of improvement over the past year I am considering returning to some form of part-time or flexible employment that I can preferably do from home. But I’m apprehensive about disclosing the fact that I have ME to a future employer. Please could you explain what the legal position is here – especially if I am asked about any health problems at an interview.
Employment: Ill-Health Early Retirement
I am facing a big dilemma at work. I’m in my early fifties, have had ME for nearly seven years, and have managed to gradually return to part-time work. I normally enjoy my work but I’ve had real problems trying to obtain some reasonable modifications to the duties I perform. The occupational health department has been supportive but my employer has not been helpful. So I am now really struggling and considering whether I should consider taking early retirement on the grounds of permanent ill health. Is there any guidance you can offer on taking early retirement based on what I assume must be a situation that many other people with ME have to face at some point.
Disability Classification
How does the government define a disability? Does the government classify ME/CFS as a disability? I ask because I assume that this could have important implications for people who are having problems with benefits, education or work.
Dr Charles Shepherd
Dr Shepherd has been Trustee and Hon. Medical Adviser to the ME Association for more than 40 years. He is integral to the charity's activities and provides information and support based on his professional knowledge, personal experience as a doctor with ME/CFS, and the understanding gained from helping many thousands of people with the condition. He was a member of the comittee responsible for the 2021 NICE Clinical Guideline and is a recognised expert on ME/CFS in the UK. His knowledge extends to Post-Viral Fatigue Syndromes (PVFS), Myalgic Encephalopathy/Encephalomyelitis (ME), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), and Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) or Long Covid.
If you have questions about ME/CFS or Long Covid, you can:
- Review the free information in the What is ME/CFS section of the website, and the free Covid-19 and Long Covid information in the website shop.
- Review the largest range of literature covering all aspects of living with ME/CFS. Download detailed information about symptoms, diagnosis, management, co-mordidities, employment, education, related health conditions, The 2021 NICE Clinical Guideline, welfare benefits etc.
- Join the ME Association as a member and you'll receive the highly-rated ME Essential magazine, and you can ask questions of the charity’s expert advisers including Dr Shepherd.
- Contact us via the ME Connect Telephone Helpline (open 365 days a year) and speak to one of the national team of fully-trained volunteers who waiting to provide information and support.
- Contact us via email or social media:
Medical Matters is based on the popular ‘Ask the Doctor‘ series featured in the highly-regarded member’s magazine, ME Essential, and in the healthcare professional magazine, ME Medical. Both are produced by the ME Association and published as hard-copy magazines every 3 months and sent to members and healthcare professionals by post to home or business addresses.
If you are a Health Care Professional you can sign-up to receive ME Medical magazine (people with ME/CFS can also nominate their HCP by completing the sign-up form).