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AIBU?

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Original poster

To have a 'sick day' for an endoscopy and colonoscopy?

52 replies

Lovelilies · 24/07/2017 18:17

I work 2 days a week.
Having urgent tests done on Friday for weight loss/anaemia when I'm scheduled to work, so will be off sick that day.
Just received a text from manager saying she 'hopes I'll help the department' out by making up the hours on the days either side of this.
Where do I stand? I work for the NHS if that makes any difference.
Do I need to make up the hours?!

OP posts:
Bungleboggs · 24/07/2017 18:20

When I had to go for tests in the hospital (cardiac, lasted hours)I offered to work a different day that week. I work 2 days so swopped my Friday to a Wednesday. I wasnt actually ill on the day although the tests were very uncomfortable.

Smilingthru · 24/07/2017 18:22

I work 2 days a week (teacher) and in the last of I've needed time off for a medical appointment I've offered to drop my days around. Give and take from both sides. X

ParadiseCity · 24/07/2017 18:23

At my place you have to make up the time for medical appointments.

minisoksmakehardwork · 24/07/2017 18:24

Has someone else been called in to cover your shifts, who wouldn't ordinarily be at work that day?

Most of me says you're taking sick leave so the department has to manage. You might not be in a position to work other days if you work part time.

However; if someone has been called in to cover your shifts then I would arrange with that person to cover their shifts at a mutually convenient time.

londonrach · 24/07/2017 18:25

Sick day tell boss and talk to hr

booellesmum · 24/07/2017 18:25

I work in the NHS.
We get time off for hospital appointments but not GP appointments.
If I had a hospital appointment I would not have to make the time up.
I would check your sickness and absence policy as will vary between trusts.
If in any doubt speak to HR.

upandabout · 24/07/2017 18:26

I think it would depend how much sick leave you've had recently. If you haven't taken a day off in the past 12 months I think you should take it as sick leave but if you've been off more regularly than swapping shifts would be reasonable.
Could you take it as unpaid leave?

Loopytiles · 24/07/2017 18:27

Unless you are under threat of action for poor attendance I would take it as sick leave.

Loopytiles · 24/07/2017 18:28

It's sick leave as OP is having invasive tests. It's not up to employees to "make up" time or find cover for their sick leaveX

TheVoiceofDoom · 24/07/2017 18:29

I'd let one of mine off for that so this seems a bit harsh, especially as an emergency.

brasty · 24/07/2017 18:30

It depends on your employment contract. Have a read and this will tell you if you have to make up the hours or not. You can't take sick leave, as you have already told then you are going to an appointment. But you may be entitled to paid time off for it.

Original poster
Lovelilies · 24/07/2017 18:31

I'd have to pay a childminder an extra day for my 2 youngest (they'll be there on the Friday as I'm in hospital).
The ward is short anyway so they will have to get bank/agency staff to cover.
I've not had any sick leave for over a year.
Just doesn't seem fair to ask, but I'll speak to HR tomorrow and see what they say.

OP posts:
EggysMom · 24/07/2017 18:33

Check your Ts&Cs of contract. My firm expects you to make time up for GP, but not for dental or hospital appointments. (Not that my manager knew this when I started seven years ago, I had to enlighten him!)

brasty · 24/07/2017 18:38

OP childcare costs and other issues are not really relevant here. All that matters is what your contract says.

spidey66 · 24/07/2017 18:38

I'd take it as sick. I've had a colonoscopy and needed the day off before as well as the day of the procedure, as part of the prep it taking a very strong laxative and you need to be near a loo.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 24/07/2017 18:43

I'd take it as sick.

Up until recently we were supposed to make up time for appointments. However when I was going for tests and appointments before an operation I didn't bother. If they'd said anything I would have got myself signed off as I was definitely ill enough to do so.

Polarbearflavour · 24/07/2017 18:48

Sick leave. Are you being sedated? You can't go back to work after that - I've had the same procedures and took the whole day as approved sick leave.

I have worked in the public and private sectors and hospital appointments are always sick leave or special leave.

Sorry but your manager sounds awful. Working for the NHS I imagine you work hours of unpaid overtime. Funny how NHS managers have been the least empathic people I have worked for!

MollyHuaCha · 24/07/2017 18:58

For colonoscopy you need to prepare with a restrictive diet and then strong laxatives the day before. It is often carried out under light sedation. You also need to take care the day after as your bowel will still be in a delicate state. So it is essentially a three day procedure.

So I would say for a different type of medical test where there is no preparation and recovery (such as mammography), it might be fair to ask you to make up the time. But for an invasive bowel investigation, I think it would be fair to give you the time off as sick leave.

But I'm not in charge of your HR department...

riddles26 · 24/07/2017 19:10

I'm NHS and I would say definitely sick. It's invasive and needed urgently. As others have said, also likely to involve sedation so you are not fit to work.

Saying that, if I had a nice manager and I could facilitate it, I would try come in another day to make up for it but a lot of people can't do this. Also, a full time employee would not be asked to work a weekend or lose AL for it so why should you? You get paid proportionately less because you work less hours

limon · 24/07/2017 19:15

It will all depend on your employers policy.

At my place hospital appointments are permitted in work time but GP and dentist arent.

Original poster
Lovelilies · 24/07/2017 19:24

This same manager a few years ago asked me, when I needed a day off to travel 150 miles for a CVS (invasive antenatal test to rule out serious chromosomal abnormalities in a foetus), whether I'd be taking unpaid leave.
When I told her I was expecting, she congratulated me with 'oh, was it an accident?'.
So I guess I'm not in a rush to 'help her out' as it were, staff here are certainly not valued enough for me to bother doing over and above (for the department I mean, not my patients!)

OP posts:
Original poster
Lovelilies · 24/07/2017 19:27

And yes, the bowel prep starts the day before, and I'll be having sedation during the procedure(s)

OP posts:
FishWifeInAnotherLife · 24/07/2017 19:30

Sick day. You don't owe them anything.

LordPercy · 24/07/2017 19:31

Last time I went for both procedures I worked the day before, took the preparation that night (much improved from the crap I used to have to take) and then rolled into the hospital at lunchtime. There were delays and I wasn't taken until after 5 was starving and had to take the sedation this time don't usually. I was only allowed home if I had someone to look after me and the form I'd signed apparently invalidated my car insurance for the next 24 hours too. To be honest I was fit for nothing the next day anyway.

If you're ill, you're ill OP...your work will just have to do without you.

blackteaplease · 24/07/2017 19:32

I would expect to take paid sick leave for that. I certainly wouldn't be paying for extra childcare so that I could swap shifts.

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