Briefly, I got to see Occupational Health maybe about six months after my stroke in very early 2024. The final recommendation was that I should phase-in a gradual return to full employment. However….the doctor knew nothing about stroke and its recovery, particularly its speed and the huge range of possible after-effects. The recommended phasing-in took place over four weeks ending eventually on 100% employment! Impossible for a stroke patient. I was not up to the cut-and-thrust of employment. I was certainly not up to it cognitively; my wife could see that clearly but I was delusional in that, because I have done certain things in the past, it was apparently then a simple matter just to resume things easily as it was. To make matters worse, it was also insisted that my wife didn’t accompany me, but we got around that after a bit of an argument. Good job we did.
Fortunately my Head of Department was much more sympathetic, and wangled it so that (i) I could work from home, (ii) be on a 60% retirement deal. I was 64 at the time, now 65, and was going to retire at end of the present academic year anyway. This was definitely something we could work with. It gave me time to do the various therapies and exercises. Added to which I couldn’t really cope with the lighting at work, or with people around me, a bit a problem when teaching the 300+. It was very tricky being at work itself.
I retire fully at the end of this month, my choice, but I am not sure that anyone will notice! Perfect. Happy that I have got what is the best outcome for me and my situation.
My recommendation is to have someone with you if you have an OH appointment, and to insist on that at the time.