Hospital appointment- is time off work allowed?

[Hattie23]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone may be able to give me some advice re attending hospital and doctor appointments during working hours please?

I have 2 auto-immune disorders. One involves going for a blood test every 3-6 months followed by seeing my GP a week or so later for meds review. I always get the bloods done as early as possible and make the GP appt for as late as possible.

This does mean arriving at work an hour or so late or leaving 30mins to an hour early. However I very rarely leave work on time and would say I do an average of 2-3 hrs extra a week. Not much but enough to still be "in credit" as it were.

So far management have been ok but the problem I have is the hospital appointment for the 2nd disorder. So far there have been 2. The first was when I was on sick leave and the 2nd was at 10am. Now I have my next appointment in Dec and it's at 12pm. The hospital is a 15min train journey from work. I have rung to see if there is an earlier or later time but there is nothing available until mid Jan. Health wise I don't think I should delay the appointment.

Sorry this is turning into an essay but I don't want to give bad info.

So given how much of the day I will miss I was wondering if I should need to take an annual leave day? Policy is a bit woolly and encourages as little time off as possible.

I suppose what I am asking is whether there are grounds for me to take the time off to go or do I have to take annual leave?

Sorry again for so long!!
Thanks

[SoonToBeSix]

I have personally never worked anywhere that wouldn't require you to take annual leave for non emergency medical appointments.

[Bordersmummy]

Could you speak to your HR rep about it? Is there an option for you to stay late for a couple of hours one evening to make up time.

I realise I'm lucky spoiled but I would expect to be able to go to such an appointment without taking annual leave. But I might have to make up time in another way. You have tried to get a better-time appointment, so you are not taking the piss.

[Hattie23]

Thank you all very much for your thoughts. I really don't want to be thought of as taking the piss. Unfortunately I am not getting on with my manager at the moment so it's really difficult to talk it through with her. But, yes, talking to HR and/or Acas are good ideas.

I think one of the conditions is classed as a disability. I will have a read of the Equality Act.

I think then maybe my best bet would be to offer to make up the time but say I am happy to take AL if they prefer. And to do it by email probably.

Thanks again. I do appreciate your help.

[Whitershadeofpale]

What I've done in this situation is come in 1/2 hour early and left work at say 11.30 and come back after my appointment and obviously not taken a lunch break. Could this be an option?

[Hattie23]

That could be an option, yes. Thankyou for that idea. I could go in at 8 and stay late. We don't really get an identified lunch break, just 30mins unpaid but still have to answer phone / pager. But I am just leaving work now when I should finish at 5 so maybe that's an hour in the "bank".
Thank you