"Absolutely horrendous "

I had shingles many years ago and as I couldn’t tolerate codeine or morphine I was reluctantly prescribed Methadone

I had my reservations but i did try it and it was an effective method of pain relief. Five years later and after being in a serious car crash and having both knees replaced I still carried on using methadone for pain relief. When the time came to stop methadone I was given the choice to reduce with my GP’s support or to be referred to CGL. After lots of reassurances about CGL being more knowledgeable and offering groups etc I decided to give CGL a try. I work full time as a safeguarding midwife and asked if I could have monthly pick up of my medication as I work all over the country. This was not acceptable but I was allowed to pick it up weekly.

With the Covid19 I was doing shifts all

over the place and had to isolate

with new parents whose child was on the “at risk” register. I had to take one new born to a foster placement in Bristol and was asked to leave on the Sunday night ready to meet the foster carer and social worker on Monday and to return on the Wednesday. I collected all of the court paperwork and emails etc to confirm the process. I messaged my key worker as my

Weekly script was starting on the Monday and I asked if I could collect my

Script the day before or could i just take one Or two daily dose with me for the Monday and if needed for the Tuesday, I explained to my key worker that I had no choice but to go as I was the only

qualified person to go and speak in court in regards to the possibility of the parents being given a chance to go to an assessment unit to see if they could parent the child.

After providing all the evidence to my key

Worker I was not allowed to take one dose with me for the Monday. I was not sure how i would feel after missing a dose

and if the court case carried on to the next

day it would therefore be 2 day’s without my meds and as I was giving evidence as a person qualified to give my opinion on the care of the child.

I asked my employer if I could send another nurse to take my place but I had a reply stating that My contract states my availability to be on call when required and to be able to travel at short notice. I was told that if i didn’t go I would be given a written warning. Yet again I showed my Key Worker all of my correspondence with my employer but I was told that I would have to risk being without my meds for 1 or maybe 2 days as she would not authorise for me to pick up a dose to take with me.

I am so disappointed at the lack of empathy and the way my key worker appeared to take great delight in saying that I had to either lose my job or lose up

to two doses of my medication.

Since this time I have had another issue with my pick up date being changed without my knowledge. I will write this incident on a separate review.

Thank you