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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that, if you work two/three days a week ...

124 replies

WhateverHappenedToMe · 23/03/2018 17:54

... you should try to arrange your doctors' appointments for the days you don't work, and not for 2 p.m. on a day that you do?

OP posts:
DailyMailReadersAreThick · 23/03/2018 21:47

Not sure why so many posters can't read the OP's simple question.

No, of course YANBU. You should try to arrange them for days off.

shaggedthruahedgebackwards · 23/03/2018 21:50

YANBU

I work 3 days a week and would always book routine GP & dental appointments for one of my days off

Hospital appointments obviously aren't so easy to schedule but I would aim to book on day off if possible

hazeyjane · 23/03/2018 21:53

I work part time, I also have a disabled son. I do my best to ensure his appointments are when I am not working. Sometimes it is impossible though - for example his gastroenterology consultant clinic is on a day I work. His heart scan just came through...a work morning, I rang to change appointment, next one available is August. His splints are causing sores on his feet, I need to take the first cancellation appointment available, even if it is a work day.

MacaroniPenguin · 23/03/2018 21:59

Yes you should try. Work should understand that it's not always possible. Hospital clinics, midwives etc have set days which always seem to be my work days,

ChocolateChipMuffin2016 · 23/03/2018 22:00

I work 2 days, my dental hygienist only works Wednesday’s which happens to be a day I work. Not my fault but I try to make the appointments as early as possible and make the time up so they don’t miss out!

goldenbulldog · 23/03/2018 22:02

likely is only available day I don't find that unreasonable

minipie · 23/03/2018 22:03

YABU

People who work part time should not deliberately try to get appointments in working hours, but neither should they try to avoid working hours any more than others, just because they have more non working days.

Do you think people who work part time just swan around on their days off? Most part timers are part time because they have other obligations (childcare, looking after elderly parents, another job).

IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece · 23/03/2018 22:03

I work 4 days a week (M-Th) so the obvious choice is a Friday appointment isn’t it?

Except I rang my doctors yesterday for an appointment and was given the next available one on May 2nd which is a Wednesday then nothing until the following Monday. So I’ve no choice have it because I’m not waiting longer then that.

It’s not always as simple as you make it out to be

minipie · 23/03/2018 22:06

If you work full time, and think part time workers should schedule appointments on their non working days... Do you try to schedule appointments on your annual leave days?

If not why not?

PinkAvocado · 23/03/2018 22:06

Good point Minipie.

Sara107 · 23/03/2018 22:07

I find it you try and fit an appointment around work you are treated like some sort of alien!! I try to always ask for one at the beginning or end of the day to minimise disruption. Conversation with dental receptionist (making appt for check up in 6 months time): Can I have the latest appt available on that day please? Her : 11.45? Me: have you anything later than that, at the end of the day? Her: 1.30? Me: I'ld like the latest one you have, is there one near the end of the day? Her: 3.30? Me: have you anything about 5pm ( for goodness sake, the surgery is open til 6 and I am booking half a year in advance!!!)? Her: 4.30 is the latest we can do. No wonder people take time off.....

DailyMailFail101 · 23/03/2018 22:11

Doctors appointments are hard to get these days, I think you just need to take what appointment they give you, yes if you have a choice go for a day you are not working. I rang up for a urgent appointment as my six month old had a allergic reaction and his face swelled, they offered me an appointment for a weeks time....🙄

SukiTheDog · 23/03/2018 22:19

With the way the NHS is now, I’d say getting any appointment is good going. Take it when you can.

MeadowHay · 23/03/2018 22:20

If possible, sure, but it's very often not possible. I'm not sure how you can't understand that? It's not a complicated notion given how stretched the NHS is.

TuftedLadyGrotto · 23/03/2018 22:51

I tried to swap my days because I couldn't move a hospital appointment. My boss said no because it wasn't fair that I should have to do that, and they don't want to be seen to be treating part time workers less favourably.

DairyisClosed · 23/03/2018 22:54

This us Britain you know. Unless you are going private, (but who would? - the NHS is free don't you know!) you don't really get much choice in appointment times.

Osirus · 23/03/2018 23:57

You should certainly TRY, but it’s often unavoidable. Being able to make appointments outside of working hours is one of the benefits of part time working.

I work two days a week and haven’t had to make any appointments on my working days at all. My GP surgery is easy to make appointments with though. I know with some types of medical appointments you don’t get a choice.

Someone I work with works half days and every day she wanders out of the office. She “popped out” FIVE times before she left work one day this week!

BunsyGirl · 24/03/2018 17:24

I work four days and neither my dentist or orthodontist work on my day off so I have to go during work time. I make routine doctors appointments on my day off but if i’m ill I need to be seen when i’m I’ll, not on my day off!!

BackforGood · 24/03/2018 17:43

I work PT and try to make any appts I need outside of work but if it is a hospital appt then clinics are usually on set days so you get no choice.

Sparkletastic · 24/03/2018 17:46

Sometimes unavoidable but I would make up the hours on a non working day.

reluctantbrit · 24/03/2018 17:52

I had a run-in about this with a colleague. I was told to do a phone appointment offered by our private health insurance but knew that I needed a new prescription and this wouldn’t be possible. I never do routine appointments, not even for DD on my workdays.

I was thorough pissed off that it seems part timers are not allowed to be sick on their work days. In the end I was actually signed off work for a week, so it wasn’t a case of not caring but an emergency and my colleague appologised.

KittenBeast · 24/03/2018 18:02

You take what you're given unfortunately. Where I live you ring up on the day you feel you need an appointment, between 8:30 and 9am, if they can't fit you in that day, they wont give you an appointment for a future date, you have to call in the morning every day till you get one.

Tantrumschmantrum · 24/03/2018 18:04

I work PT and have for years. I have always made an effort to plan appointments on my days off HOWEVER those days are also super chocca with lots of other stuff and sometimes this isn't possible. Anyway the FT staff never seem to have a problem taking time for things like this in work time so why should I feel bad when this happens occasionally? They are more likely to be taking paid time to do these things than me, plus I get paid less. You are being a bit unreasonable.

Aria2015 · 24/03/2018 18:06

This is a tough one, I agree on the surface of it but I work part time and it's actually easier for me to attend appointments on work days because I already have childcare. For appointments that I can book myself I opt for a lunch hour, before work or just before I finish work. I have to make up any time I have for appointments anyway so I don't feel bad about work losing out but I do still try to minimise disruption to potential meetings by making them the times I've just stated. For hospital appointments you don't get to choose but if I'm asked (by the hospital), I ask to have them on work days because of childcare (I don't have to make up time for hospital appointments).

Namechange16 · 24/03/2018 18:14

I agree for a regular appointment, but not for a hospital one. For that you get what you're given. It's taken me 2 months to get a referral for my dad. It's on a day that I work and I rarely have time offf.