Appealing a medical outcome - HELP!

[**Orchard CM**]

Hi Ladies & Gents,

I'm going to try and keep this short but will answer any questions you have! Basically I've received a letter yesterday saying I'm medically unfit to work with children as a childminding and in any registered setting. This was heartbreaking to read. I have epilepsy and the reason they have said it is because of a letter from my specialist nurse saying that I shouldn't work with young children and babies??? I am trained at level 3 in childcare, I've worked and ran other settings for 10 years and been passed by ofsted twice and occupational health with my local council. The fact this nurse has said it has left me FUMING to say the least as I'd love to know how she can back it up when she know FA about childcare. I had a seziure in November last year but there is an explanation for that. Basically I got pregnant, my specialist at neurology sent me a pregnancy plan when to up my meds etc which I followed. I then had a seziure due to my hormone counter acting my meds, the hospital were baffled and just told me to keep upping them - which I did. I was then having absences so the hospital sent me for a scan to check baby and the scan revealed triplets (which later we were left heartbroken after a miscarriage). The hospital were happy as they had finally found out why it was happening - three times the hormones. This seziure only happened because of that pregnancy, my last one before then was 2010, so 4 years clear!! So I had a medical procedure as I wouldn't have been able to miscarry all three and a placenta and afterwards I have been totally fine. Three months after this I saw a different nurse who I've known all my life and the letter from the hospital is very positive. My seziure control is good etc. Ofsted had my medical declaration and sent a letter to my GP requesting more information (which I expected after previous encounters with them and OH) and my GP stated how I've never been off work, never had sick notes and it's never affected my ability to get a job. Yet because of this stupid nurse making that recommendation I have been rejected on medical grounds. If I was unsuitable to work with children why wasn't this flagged up before I made a career? I want to ask the nurse what the hell in supposed to live on as I can't claim any kind of disability because my epilepsy doesn't affect my day to day life and I'm able and fit to work? So I'm now left in a position of not knowing what to do? Do I ring my specialist doctor and ask him for a letter? I want to meet with and ofsted medical person to explain, can I do this? I'm also thinking of making a complaint about the nurse and her 'judgements', I wasn't happy after the appointment anyway because as soon as we sat down she asked if we were adopting.. I said to my husband what a completely offensive, upsetting and damn right insensitive personal question to ask!!! My epilepsy has never affected me anywhere. I have 11gcses, 2 a levels and a national diploma - it didn't affect my brain in my education. I've worked in childcare for 10 years, gaining a mass of experience and knowledge - climbing ladders to become managers etc - didn't affect my career at all? I was never rejected for any of my placements? I'm just so upset. I left my job to persue becoming a childminder - the stress of my previous job and my awful manager above me was making my life hell. One of my a levels is in business and if I hadn't of gone into childcare it would have been in business so I decided to merge them together! I'm so excited and ready to go. I've spent loads of money and done lots of paperwork and got it in my little filing cabinet and everything and now this because of that nurse who has basically ruined my career as my letter says I can't even get a job in any registered setting :( :( :(
Does anyone have an advice on how to go about appealing? Any help would be appreciated - thank you for getting this far!!!
Kymberley xxx

[blue bear]

I'm sorry I do t know about appealing.
Who is this nurse? Did she see you on behalf of ofsted? Who is her boss I would be speaking to them and asking if the boss can review what she has said?

[shortstuff]

I dont in any way mean to be rude to nurses as they are fab but do ofsted take the information from nurses? Or was her report signed off by a doctor also? I think this would be where I would start my investigation. I would also ask for an appointment with the nurse to see if she can explain her reasoning to you. You might actually help her to see how in control your epilepsy is.

I wish you luck x

I would also like to say my heart goes out to you. You had a traumatic time losing your babies. I hope you have given yourself time to grieve.

[Blueeyedminder]

Hi Kymberly

So sorry to hear about the loss of your babies!

Maybe the nurse thought that being a childminder who (mostly) works alone unlike in a nursery or school could be a risk factor? I can see that being a potential problem.

[**Orchard CM**]

Thank you for your replies :)

No this is a nurse who works in the epilepsy department and it isn't signed by a doctor? I wondered why they didn't go to my consultant? I have been re reading letters from the hospital and these blood tests you cannot argue with... It shows my meds per litre
Before pregnancy (controlled for 4 years with no seziure) - 10.5/L
Pregnancy - 1.5/L - why I had the seziure as obviously it's so low
Last test done in June - 15.4/L

So how can she say I'm unable when now my bloods are actually better than pre pregnancy?? That's why my epilepsy is better?? Stupid nurse, if I was unable to work with children why hasn't anyone ever said this before? At college they allowed me on the course, placements - including a year with babies, ASC clubs and schools. Why have ofsted cleared me twice in two different jobs - one where I was alone and occupational health for the council have? I was taking children for lessons etc with no support?? So is 10 years of childcare and education a waste??

She also wrote in the letter that my sister and husband will be with me anyway. Although this is true they aren't with me because of my epilepsy, hubby is doing a level 2 in childcare and my sister is already on her level 3 but wants to do a 2yr placement with me (unpaid!! Wohoo!) so the way she's wrote it though is like I need to rely on someone?

I'm wondering whether to go to neurology tomorrow and sit until I'm seen by the doctor??!

Thank you for your kind words about my triplets. They were very wanted babies too as we were trying for over 2 years.. It has left my body a bit damaged though as we aren't meant to carry three babies are we! We are dealing with it individually and I'm hoping time will be a healer...

Thanks for helping :)

[sarah707]

Ofsted risk assess each one of us individually - what are the risks of something going wrong when we are on our own working with children...

If we have a medical problem they will look into it in more detail, usually asking doctors and consultants for information and asking us to see their own doctors.

There is a medical exclusion around seizures - for driving a car / getting insurance it's usually 2 years I think - and I am sure that follows with epilepsy.

Could you work with someone else so you are not on your own? Would that make a difference I wonder?

Sending hugs xx

[JCrakers]

I'm pretty sure there have been a couple of childminders on here who had epilepsy but I'm not sure if they are still on here.

Each case is different but it you could find who they are then it could be good to chat with someone whose been through a same process :D

[AliceK]

I think I would get an apt to see my consultant and ask them why they feel you are unsuitable to work with children. See what they say. It could be that your consultant will disagree with what the nurse has said and can then clarify that to Ofsted. I would bet that your consultant doesn't even know the nurse has said what she has.
xx