Local lecturer urges Oldham MPs to attend vital Parliamentary sick pay debate

Women with endometriosis are working in abject pain and losing £3,400 every five years – because they don’t receive statutory sick pay.

So says local charity Endometriosis Awareness North who state that women often rock up to work, and risk performing badly or accept a hit in the pocket with unpaid leave, when the condition flares-up. 

That’s why they are urging everyone in Oldham to write to MPs Debbie Abrams and Jim McMahon and get them to attend a debate on the subject next Monday, April 13 at 4:30pm. 

And they’re backed in their Westminster Hall call by an Oldham Maths lecturer, who fell behind in her studies and had to put a master’s degree on hold because the pain she still encounters is so bad it occasionally leaves her wheelchair bound. 

Speaking in a candid and moving blog, Laura Culshaw (pictured) outlines how despite having the condition for a quarter of a century, she feels “dismissed, doubted, and left behind” (go to https://endometriosisawarenessnorth.com/blogs). 

And sadly poor attitudes to people like Laura also extend to the workplace – says charity founder Dr Anita Sharma. 

“If you are unfortunate enough to have endo, it’s anticipated that you lose £56 per month in income from unpaid sick days and the cost of healthcare” said Dr Sharma.  

“And then there is the constant thought that time off means falling behind at work and even becoming a liability to your company.  We have heard of instances where bosses have not promoted employees with endo, and even let them go.” 

As if these stresses weren’t enough, the one in ten women with endo endure: 
• A ten-year (and rising) wait for a proper diagnosis 
• The risk of endometriosis cells adhering to vital organs causing serious illness or even death 
• Depression so bad that fifty per cent of sufferers have dark thoughts 

For Laura, the physical pain is sometimes so bad that she cannot walk, let alone work. 
But Dr Sharma believes that a few adjustments in practice could see so-called endo warriors able to enjoy successful careers.  

These include rest areas when the pain becomes too much and more flexible working hours, plus of course, statutory sick pay. 

“This may seem like an extra cost for the government but actually it is a financial saving for businesses and the economy” she revealed. If allowed to recover from a flare-up, someone with endo is not going to try and battle through it and have even more time off. If they are less anxious about the money they are losing, that will mean a healthier outcome, too.” 

The Parliamentary debate has been forced by a petition from members of the public for three days of statutory sick pay per month to be paid to those with endometriosis. 

For more on Endometriosis Awareness North, go to https://endometriosisawarenessnorth.com/