20 January 2020

University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and Weston Area Health NHS Trust commit to the Dying to Work Charter

UH Bristol and WAHT have added their names to a charter aimed at helping employees who become terminally ill at work.

The Trusts are the latest employers to sign up to theDying to Work Voluntary Charter,following in the footsteps of employers such as Rolls Royce, Royal Mail and the Co-op.

The Charter is part of the TUC's widerDying to Workcampaign which is seeking greater security for terminally ill workers where they cannot be dismissed as a result of their condition.

Dying to Workwas taken forward by the TUC following the case of Jacci Woodcook, an area sales manager from Derbyshire who was forced out of her job 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.

Jeff Farrar, chair of both UH Bristol and WAHT, said:

"As the Chairman of these Trusts, I cannot reiterate enough how important it is to put the health and wellbeing of our staff at the forefront of our minds.

"That is why the way we show that we care and support our staff at such a difficult time is critically important.

"I hope the charter goes some way to demonstrate and formalise this support"

TUC South West Regional Secretary Nigel Costley,said:

"Your job should be the least of your worries when you get a terminal diagnosis.

"I'm delighted that University Hospitals Bristol and Weston Area Health NHS Trust have shown real leadership in this area, working with unions to guarantee fair treatment for terminally-ill workers.

"We now have 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."

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