Time off for medical appointments.

[TheBugWife]

I suffer from a mental health condition, as yet undiagnosed but I am working with my doctors and have been referred to the mental health services.

I have finally got an appointment for some therapy, schema therapy or Cat therapy to be decided at the first appointment I think. My problem is, my appointment is at a time when I am working, I imagine it will be at this time each week for months?

Am I entitled to time off for this? I was going to offer to make the tine back at a time I don't usually work (I will obviously request to change the appointment but this is the NHS so I don't hold out much hope)

There's no absolute legal entitlement to the time off at all, and certainly not to paid time off (if your condition is long term then it may be classed as a disability in which case being given time to attend appointments might well be a reasonable adjustment but even then it won't necessarily be paid). That being said most reasonable and humane employers see it's in everyone's best interests to facilitate their employees going to appointments like this as otherwise sickness goes up, productivity down etc. The most common kinds of amarrangement are flexi tim/ making the time back up at a later date if this is possible within your job (sometimes it's not), annual leave or unpaid leave. Sometimes a small amount of paid special leave can be given if the employer is a generous one but not usually enough to cover a whole course of therapy. So it probably would be worth asking at your first appointment if there's any flexibility in when they can offer sessions. And then have a conversation with your manager on that basis? Good luck!

Thank you, I was hoping for a flexi time type arrangement where I make up the missed time. My employer is usually fantastic so I can't see it being a problem but I didn't want to come across as entitled or unrealistic.