Stoma, Pouch, Medical Rehabilitation, Redundancy

Da Blacksmith

Hi,

first of all I want to say, that I am not a native speaker but I hope I can make myself clear. So please don't don't wonder why I might use some strange vocabulary.

I moved from Germany to Ireland in 2007 to start my first job as an employee at a French originated company. In October 2007 I was taken to hospital after prolonged abdominal pain and diarrhoea. In the hospital they diagnosed Ulcerative Colitis, which was a shock for I had never symptoms before. After a couple of unsuccessful treatments they decided to perform a colectomy (removal of the large intestine) to prevent a toxic megacolon.

Since then I have a stoma. I decided to stay in Dublin and to go on with my job. Early April this year I had my second surgery, where they removed my rectum and created a pouch. It is planned to have a third surgery in August / September, where they want to relocate my stoma back in the inside of my belly and connect it to the pouch, so my bowel motions will take they normal route.

Unfortunately my company announced early this month many redundancies to come in early September. Could you help me by answering some questions I have in my mind concerning my disease and the redundancies?

1. What happens, when I am in the hospital while they fulfil the redundancies. I am somehow protected by that?
2. What happens, when they make me redundant while I am in the hospital. Will I lose my VHI cover immediately? I am covered via the company over the VHI Company Plan Plus.
3. What happens, when they make me redundant while I recover from the surgery. The relocation of the stoma and the reconnection to the digestive tract is very complicated intervention and it takes several weeks till the pouch starts to work properly. Are there any protective mechanisms to protect me from the redundancy while in that stage?
4. Is there any possibility for getting a handicapped ID? What percentage of handicap I would probably get and does this influence they way the company can make me redundant? Where can I "apply" for this?
5. I read that it is usual in Germany to go to for medical rehabilitation after this kind of surgery. Is this possible in Ireland as well? Where I have to apply for this and what are the chances to get one? If I get the allowance to do this, can my company make me redundant while I'm in medical rehabilitation?
6. If you cannot help me answering this question, do you know where I can find further counselling? Is my GP or my health insurance a good address or should I look somewhere else?

May thanks in advance. I am quite desperate at the moment and hope I get some answers that help me to sort things out.

tbh

DB, I'm going to move this post to the state benefits forum, but leave a permanent redirect from the LTI forum. That way, people visiting both will be able to see.

SB mods, if you move again could you please consider leaving a redirect?

ta.