Published on: 3 July 2018
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has added its name to a charter aimed at helping employees who become terminally ill at work.
The Trust is the latest employer to sign up to the Dying to Work Voluntary Charter, following in the footsteps of employers such as Rolls-Royce, Royal Mail and the Co-op.
Ifti Majid, Chief Executive of Derbyshire Healthcare Trust, said: “We are pleased to confirm the Trust’s support for the Dying to Work charter. As an NHS employer, the Trust is committed to supporting any colleague who becomes terminally ill.
“Through signing the charter we hope to raise greater awareness of this initiative across our workforce, partner agencies and local communities. We also seek to ensure we are doing all we can to support any colleague who receives a terminal diagnosis while working for the Trust.
“We were especially pleased to welcome Mid Derbyshire MP Pauline Latham to be present at the signing.”
Sales manager's campaign
MP Pauline Latham said: “I am delighted that Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has committed to the Dying to Work Charter. This campaign is very important in ensuring the rights of employees who suffer from a terminal illness in the course of employment. It is only right that terminally ill workers are given the appropriate support and that their rights are upheld.
“My constituent Jacci Woodcock’s ongoing work on this campaign has been inspirational. I admire her great dignity and determination.
“It is great to see Derbyshire Healthcare Trust is committed to the protection of the rights of their workers who may get a terminal illness and promoting awareness of this initiative across the wider community.”
The Charter is part of the TUC’s wider Dying to Work campaign which is seeking greater security for terminally ill workers where they cannot be dismissed as a result of their condition.
Dying to Work was taken forward by the TUC following the case of Jacci Woodcook, an area sales manager from Derbyshire who was forced out of her job three years ago after being diagnosed with terminal breast cancer.
Guarantee of fair treatment
Jacci was present at the signing and said: “When I found out that I had terminal cancer, it never occurred to me that I didn’t want to work. Nor did it occur to me that my company would not support me to enable this to happen!
“After discovering the loophole in the present law that allows unscrupulous employers to behave in a way I feel is morally wrong, I just knew I had to do my utmost best to have this corrected. We urgently need to keep getting this message out about this to get the law changed.”
The TUC is asking employers to sign up to its voluntary charter to stop cases like Jacci’s happening in the future.
TUC Midlands Regional Secretary Lee Barron said: “Your job should be the least of your worries when you get a terminal diagnosis.
“I’m delighted that Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has shown real leadership in this area, working with unions to guarantee fair treatment for terminally ill workers.
“600,000 workers are now covered by the Dying to Work charter across the country, and we expect more employers to commit in the coming months.”
