To tell my manager about my health issue now or wait until the new year?

[somethingboutyou]

I have had some test results come back from the GP which has meant I'm on an urgent referral for a hospital appointment. The GP mentioned the appointment may be in 2-4 weeks. It could end up being this week but I doubt it.

It's likely that I'll need time off for an initial appointment so would need to be offline for around 3-4 hours including travel time, as well as a procedure (will need 1-2 days off for this). I work from home and work is flexible, we just have to work the hours back we spend at appointments.

Do I message my manager in the morning and say all of the above? Or wait until I know when my appointment is? I'm conscious that I don't want to stress them out by saying this as I know it would be inconvenient to hear that a team member will need time off but they don't know when. I've had other (completely unrelated) health issues recently so I feel like awkward about this.

Should I tell my manager now, or wait?

You need to tell them and update when you have any further information. They need to be able to support you and would argue that unless you information share, they can't do that.

I think you should write an email explaining what you put above, with the I don’t know the dates as of yet. It’s just to fore warn you when I do get a date so they don’t get to stressed if you put it on them last minute

Personally, I would tell my manager, but I have a great relationship with them and no concerns relating to confidentiality.
I guess it depends on your employer, your manager and your job, really. But in an ideal world, it would be courteous to at least give a heads up so that alternative or cover arrangements can be made.
I hope you're OK, OP.

Ok I think I will tell them ASAP just so they know. I was hoping that the appointments would all be next week when the office is closed so that I wouldn't need to tell work, but I think with it being Christmas it's probably not likely, I'm not sure how it works in the NHS.