{"entity":{"id":"work-and-money-bowel-cancer-uk","kind":"term","name":"Work and money with bowel cancer (UK)","aka":["reasonable adjustments","phased return","Access to Work","stoma prescriptions","PIP"],"tldr":"From diagnosis you are protected from discrimination at work by the Equality Act 2010, and your employer must consider reasonable adjustments such as different hours, time off for appointments, changed duties or a phased return. Access to Work can fund equipment, benefits such as Personal Independence Payment may apply, and permanent stoma supplies are free on prescription.","summary":"Bowel Cancer UK says that as soon as you are diagnosed with cancer you are protected from discrimination at work by the Equality Act 2010, and in Northern Ireland by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, so employers must not treat you less favourably in recruitment, promotion, training, pay or benefits. It says your employer must make reasonable adjustments, with what counts as reasonable depending on the job, the cost, the practicality and how much it helps; examples it gives are working different hours or part-time, allowing time off for appointments, working from home and changing your role to remove difficult tasks. A phased return, starting with a few hours or days and building up, is a normal request after time off. Employers can also make practical changes such as a parking space near the entrance or flexible hours to avoid a stressful commute, and can refer you to occupational health or HR, keeping the information confidential if you ask. Access to Work schemes in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can provide grants for equipment and sometimes help with the cost of taxis to work. If you think you have been treated unfairly, speak to your employer first, then ACAS, Citizens Advice or your union. On money it lists the benefits that may apply, including Personal Independence Payment, Adult Disability Payment in Scotland, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance and other local support where the cancer is advanced, and points to Macmillan's detailed work and cancer information and to Working With Cancer for employment support. The NHS adds that with a permanent colostomy your GP gives you a prescription to order stoma bags free on the NHS, while with a temporary colostomy you may need to pay; Colostomy UK explains how to order supplies and what to think about when returning to work.","asOf":"2026-09-24","links":[{"label":"Bowel Cancer UK: work, money and travel","url":"https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-bowel-cancer/living-with-and-beyond-bowel-cancer/work,-money-and-travel/"},{"label":"Colostomy UK: obtaining stoma prescription supplies","url":"https://www.colostomyuk.org/information/prescriptions/"},{"label":"Colostomy UK: returning to work after stoma surgery","url":"https://www.colostomyuk.org/information/returning-to-work-after-stoma-surgery/"},{"label":"NHS: recovery and lifestyle changes after a colostomy","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/colostomy/recovery-and-lifestyle-changes-after-a-colostomy/"}],"tags":["gi","colorectal"],"related":[],"cancers":["colorectal"],"sections":[],"technologies":[],"targets":[],"drugs":[],"companies":[],"institutions":[],"pathways":[],"terms":["financial-toxicity"],"trials":[],"people":[],"bottlenecks":[],"keyPapers":[],"journals":[],"dependsOn":[],"notes":[],"category":"Clinic basics"},"route":"/terms/work-and-money-bowel-cancer-uk/","neighbours":{"cancer":[{"id":"colorectal","kind":"cancer","name":"Colorectal cancer","route":"/cancers/colorectal/"}],"term":[{"id":"financial-toxicity","kind":"term","name":"Financial toxicity","route":"/terms/financial-toxicity/"}]}}