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Posted on 18 Apr 2019

Nottinghamshire Healthcare has today 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 Weetabix.

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.

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 Nottinghamshire Healthcare has shown real leadership in this area, working with unions to guarantee fair treatment for terminally-ill workers.

“We are close to a million workers being covered by the Dying to Work charter across the country, and we expect more employers to commit in the coming months.”

John Brewin, Chief Executive of Nottinghamshire Healthcare, said: “I’m happy to sign this charter to protect the rights of any of our employees who become terminally unwell. To be in that position is terrible enough without having employment worries too. All our employees deserve this commitment.”

Andrea Dickens, Staff Side Chair at the Trust, added: “I am absolutely delighted that our Trust have recognised and are fully supporting the need to protect and give assurances for our staff at a time when they need it the most, they deserve the choice of how to spend their final months.”