Rampy

Hurrah! It was finished when I got back yesterday avo! A day early. It's ace! I can do what I want when I want without help from anyone else for the first5 time in 8 months, which is nice..

Went to the circus last night, this time it's the Berlin one. Not bad, the usual tumblers and acrobats etc. Very un clown like clowns which is great cos they're sinister devils usually...

enrampment begins

They're here! ASPAH are out there, slowly building my ramp. There's 3 of them and they reckon it's going to take 2 days. I hope the weather holds... Now there's a debate about steps, they were going to put a ramp across the whole lot, the neighbours need steps. So now they're packing up. Fucks sake

Meh

hello. not been blogging much, mostly because I'm very stressed and worried about something I'm not allowed to blog about, at the moment. I actually feel sick...

There's good stuff too though, I recovered from my torn cruciate ligaments about twice as fast as expected and am doing physio again. I've got an awesome trailer for my scooter, and a ramp today which means one person can get it up the steps easily. This is awesome because I've been feeling very trapped.

Anchor staying put at home were here Friday re: a permanent ramp and I had an OT visit yesterday. She agreed with me that stairs crutches are the most risky part of getting around for me and stairs the riskiest part of that and something to be avoided wherever possible

Right, off out on my scooter, looks like a nice day

petty revenge, I love it!

After being so humane and understanding to me during this difficult time, I felt it was time to give Lloydstsb a little thank you

Busy weekend

Well. That was hectic.

WAN way forward meeting, very productive. Then then Kinetica carnival workshops at college, excellent. Luckily just round the corner from me but still quite a hassle to get up, washed, do my exercises and get wheeled there for 10:30. Pretty tricky staying comfy for extended periods but worth the effort.

Physio today. Got some new exercises for muscles I didn't realise I had. He agreed that a fall could mean losing my leg and obviously minimising risk is a key factor for the coming year or two. On a normal crutch for my left arm now too, which is nice.

Round to mine after physio. I'll be living here full time again at the end of the month. Need to get my bed lowered and community physio are hopefully going to help out with some mods (ramp, rails, extra crutches etc.) Quite a lot to sort really. Definitely need a scooter too otherwise I'll only be able to get off Chapelhay independently on crutches, which somewhat limits my speed/range. Not sure where I'll park it though...

Darren picked me up after physio, glorious day again got me back to Chavelhay in time to meet Dean from Warm Front, who says I'm elegible for up to 2700GBP of new heating, which is nice...

So yeah. All go this cripple malarcky, best go have a look at my room...

Disability Alliance

Thought I'd blogged these guys already? Couldn't see it so here it is again. /very useful resource for the disabled, all sorts of advice and contact info

So far I've applied for warm front heating grant, the cinema thing and a few benefits. Was just looking into ramps and stair lifts but looks like applying takes ages...

PROVISION OF CHAIR EQUIPMENT

PROVISION OF CHAIR EQUIPMENT
Standard chairs and chair accessories are
generally regarded as daily living equipment.
If you need to change your chair because of a
disability your local authority may provide one
on loan after an assessment by an
occupational therapist (OT) or trained
assessor. However, budget constraints make
it impossible for many authorities to provide
this sort of equipment so it is important to ask
what you may be entitled to in your area.

Better, my first quote for an OT assessment of the work place was 400 quid...

Swindon EFD website - DDA compliance contacts list

Navigator Group info@navigatorgroup.co.uk

Call 01622 655260. Guide for SMEs to conduct an access audit costing £99+VAT
Disabled Living Foundation www.dlf.org.uk

Technorati Tags: work, home, disabled, dda, higher, mobility, benefit, return, work

Rambo

Zang. Cineworld let me in for the deal without the card. Great not to be thwarted by red tape, refreshing. Having said that looks like DLA's come through fine. Higher mobility component so spacehopper badge time...

Son of Rambow was pretty good. Like an 80's Brit version of Stand by me I guess... Went with my Mum. It was cool. Saw my mates bro who's worked in Compton(s) (street) for 11 years. Apparently it was open for 150years? They had to sell up, partly due to competition introduced by the interweb, mostly due to the 52 grand a year rent!

Plus whatever hideous council tax....

What is the future of shops anyway?

Apart from boutiques, jewelers, bookshops. And others. You know what I mean.

Skins is good?

Night

Free Cinema Tickets for the Disabled

bargain! hope uci participate... sure I've blogged this before...

The Cinema Exhibitors' Association Card

Welcome to the Cinema Exhibitors' Association Card Website. This is a national card that can be used to verify that the holder is entitled to one free ticket for a person accompanying them to the cinema.

Goodbye staples!

M god. They weren't wrong when they said the donor site would hurt... Who would have thought cutting through the muscle and shaving bone off the crest of my hip would hurt? Just in case it didn't they closed the wound with 7 staples, nice. Would silky soft stitches be better, I couldn't help but wonder...

Was a bit nervous it would hurt but the nurse has just removed those 7 and the 17 from my leg and it was fine. Gorgeous bliss to have them gone.

return to work of newly disabled employee

I mentioned how Veloce are dealing with me to a friend and she emailed me this

"you say they haven't tried to call you to discuss with you how you are doing and when you think you will be able to return to work - which I am sure most companies do - usually via personnel department. Everywhere I have worked have been more finger on the pulse in regards these things and handled sickness and longterm sickness with a much more professional and caring approach.

They should have emailed you and arranged a time to ring you and talk through the options with you, and your current status."

at least, I'd have thought. I gather from colleagues that enquries after my health are few and far between. I never received a card, just a legal request to allow them to approach my consultant.

Health 3.0

Join now and spread the word. We will revolutionise the health service

punky on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

punky on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Weymouth Citizens Advice Bureau

Weymouth Citizens Advice Bureau

weymouthcab@fsmail.net
2 Mulberry Terrace,
Great George Street,
Weymouth,
Dorset,
DT4 8NQ
Telephone: 01305 782798

To help with their online presence...

No way!

Remember I said how helpful citizens advice had been? It's true, the representative who visited me really knew her stuff and was incredibly helpful, and efficient. Letters were sent out within a few days.

Unfortunately I lost the bit of paper with Weymouth citizens advice email address on it, and after about 10mins!, I gave up trying to find it on google.

I phoned and, when I finally got through and asked for their email the lady put me on hold for a minute whilst she found out what it was from the manager.

When she had told me the address I mentioned that I couldn't find it on google. A rough outline of the ensuing aside follows...

nice lady: this gentleman says he can't find our email anywhere online

manager: of course not we don't have a web site

nice lady: but isn't that pointless?

manager: he wanted the email address, that's it, it works, he can't find it because it isn't published anywhere.

Something along those lines and absolutely ridiculous. It's published online now.

It would appear quality of CAB advice/employees is very much a hit and miss affair.

What does managing sickness and return to work mean?

HSE guidelines I've tried posting previously

What the consulant says

MEDICAL REPORT

Quite scary reading...

Mr Jones sustained multiple injuries when as a pedestrian 2 cars struck him on the 18^th December 2007. His injuries comprised:

1 . An open fracture of his Ieft zygoma/cheek bone with skin and soit tissue Ioss.

2. A displaced fracture of his Ieft clavicle.

3. A displaced fracture of his Ieft scapula

4. Fractured left 1st 4th-8th ribs

5. Fractured spinous processes of T7-T9 vertebrae.

6. Left acetabulum fracture (pelvis).

7. Compression fracture T12 vertebral body.

8. Displaced fracture left ulna bone in forearm.

9. Grade 3b open fracture left tibia with marked comminution and bone Ioss.

10. Severe abrasions both ankles with skin and soft tissue Ioss down to bone.

Mr Jones underwent surgery to stabilise his left tibia, clavicle and ulna bone. In addition he underwent a free tissue transfer performed by the Plastic Surgeons at Odstock Hospital to cover the Iarge soft tissue defect on his left Iower left leg.

Mr Jones is now currently convalescing at home. He is taking analgesics as required. He is still not able to use crutches and is mobile in a wheelchair. Mr Jones is going to have further surgery at Southampton General Hospital on the 27th of March under the care of Mr Gavin Bowyer, who has a special interest in lower Iimb reconstruction.

(ii)

Mr Jones received his diagnosis on the night of the accident when he was transported to the accident and emergency department at Dorset County

Hospital (18th December 2007).

(iii)

Mr Jones is currently not able to put any weight through his Ieft Ieg and Ieft arm. He is using a wheelchair to mobilise. Therefore he is unable to walk. He is at present unable to negotiate any stairs. He is able to use his right arm and Ieg normally. He is able to use his left arm for personal care and Iight activities only.

Mr Jones was discharged from hospital on 14/02/2008. He was at that stage requiring morphine for pain. This can have an effect on cognitive function.

It is apparent from the above that Mr Jones is at present significantly disabled in terms of his abllity to perform basic daily activities.

(iv)

Mr Jones will make a good recovery from the majority of his injuries. The injury that will require the most time to heal in his severe Ieft Iower Ieg injury. The injury was such that the Ieg was nearly amputated just below the knee Ievel. The leg being held on by the posterior soft tissues. There was a Iarge amount of skin and soft tissue Ioss on the front of Mr Jones Ieg together with a Iarge amount of bone Ioss. It will be a significant challenge to get Mr Jones's leg bones to heal. He is likely to require multiple further operations to his Ieft Iower leg. The next operation is planned for the 27th of March 2007 at Southampton General University Hospital.

In my personal experience the type of tibia fracture that Mr Jones has often takes in excess of 1 year to fully join. It is also important to note that the chances of Mr Jones's leg joining/healing are between 60 and 80%. If the tibia were not to join or there were significant infective complications it is possible that Mr Jones could require an amputation. If this were required I would anticipate that Mr Jones would very quickly be fully mobile and independent with the aid of a prosthetic lower limb. This is however only theoretical as there is every chance that Mr Jones tibia will go on to join over the next 12 months.

If Mr Jones's upper limb fractures heal without further intervention, as l anticipate he should be mobile with crutches over the next 4-6 weeks. Mr Jones will require crutches until his left lower leg heals/joins i.e. about 1 year if all progresses well.

It is therefore possible that once Mr Jones recovers from his next surgery he could return to work in a limited capacity. He is likely to require 3-4 weeks after his next surgery for postoperative wounds and postoperative pain to settle to an acceptable level. At that stage would anticipate Mr Jones to be able to perform a substantial proportion of his work. He would require some form of transport to work, as he would be unable to drive himself at that stage. If the stairs are of dimensions suitable to accept a person using crutches he should be able to negotiate the stairs.

The principle difficulty I can see is the ''standing for long periods'' aspect of Mr Jones's job. This would be difficult with Mr Jones only being mobile with crutches. It should however be possible for Mr Jones to stand for short-intermediate periods of time. Ideally with the ability to elevate his leg to reduce swelling periodically.

Once Mr Jones leg has healed he should be able to perform all aspects of his job.

(vi)

It is the severe left lower leg injury that is going to determine when Mr Jones is able to return to work an at what time he is able to resume normal duties. The other injuries should not have a significant impact on Mr Jones's working capacity. They are therefore unlikely to directly cause him to have further episodes of related illness in the future.

(vii)

In my opinion Mr Jones will be able to render regular valuable service in the near future. Mr Jones is likely to need further surgery to enable his left lower leg to heal. The first of these 27th March 2007. The exact number of further surgeries is not possible to predict. There is a chance that following the next planned surgery the leg

joins and no further surgery is required. If further surgeries are required they are likely to require Mr Jones to be in hospital for a few days with a short period of convalescence at home before returning to work.

(viii)

l am not an expert on the Disability Discrimination act of 1995 l have however studied the act and in my opinion Mr Jones would be classed as disabled for 'the purposes of the aforementioned act. Mr Jones's injuries will have a ''substantial adverse effect on normal day to day activities'' for example mobility. The effects of this are likely to last in excess of 1 year from the date of injury.

(ix)

Once Mr Jones has recovered from his next operation and provided that his 2 upper limb /arm fractures have joined, Mr Jones should be able to return to work in a reduced capacity.

Specific areas/recommendations that would assist Mr Jones are:

1 . A staged return to work.

2. Working from home where possible.

3. Assistance with transportation.

l hope this report is to your satisfaction and adequately answers you questions.

I believe the above to factually true and any opinions expressed are correct

All the Care you need

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myhealth

myhealth

Apart from the pain relief problem and traditional wait my experience of Southampton was very good. I went down to surgery at 11am Friday and came round in recovery at 1500ish. The op had gone very well apparently. My leg and particularly my hip were very sore... amazing to have a leg though.