Medical appointments when work in a school

[gracebros56]

I work in a school 8-3.30pm and we are not allowed time off for medical appointments -all appointments need to be booked after 3pm or in the holidays. We can't take leave as we get the holidays. I got a medical problem at the beginning of September (it would have been easier if was in August - I admit but the problem wasn't present then) I I need a blood test but my GP only do blood tests between 9 am and 11am so I need to wait till half term - under no circumstances are we allowed time off school. I sent an e consult about a related problem last week and the doctor needs to see me but no afternoon appointments available as last appointment they do is now 330pm and I won't make it in time. School Leadership team say I need to wait till half term - same rule for everyone - no appointments in working hours. I am not sure what to do. AIBU to ask again as I really don't want to wait till half term as is 3 weeks away still? In most normal jobs you can take annual leave for appointments but I can't do this in my role.

Book the appointment and call in sick

what a ridiculous rule, no job comes before your health

Are you a union? This doesn't sound legal.

We have the same problem, it is awful. I’d just ring in sick now to be honest, as they won’t budge on this.

They are not allowed to stop you.

My SLT tried this one on as well and I sent them an email pointing out that the policy was illegal under the equality act as well as other legislation

They backed down.

Book the appointment and then call in sick for the whole day.

Are you in a union? I would speak to them. I'm not sure they are allowed to stop you having medical appointments?

Honestly? I’d look for another job.

I work in a school and am not expected to take leave for appointments. They just ask to schedule first or last thing IF possible. Otherwise we just go when necessary.

We aren't banned from the appointments but we're certainly made to feel like we're letting the school down. I'd still book the appointment and tell them it wasn't possible to do it out of school hours, they'll just have to lump it. It's a medical appointment not a lovely spa day!

We are not allowed GP appointments during the working day but hospital appointments are ok

In our staff handbook it states that all medical appointments need to be after school but in this new world this is impossible. I have worked in schools for 15 years and it was never ever a problem before covid but since surgeries now don't offer evening surgeries I don't know what you are supposed to do and you can't choose times any more you just have to take what you can get.

As your employer they have a duty of care. I wonder what their liability would be if your condition worsened due to a delay in being seen.

Is this an academy? I work for a LA school and we get paid time off for something like 5 medical appointments a year.

We did not spend years at university and work hard only to end up in a job where we can't even access healthcare. Being expected to wait 5-6 weeks to see a doctor is ridiculous. What if it's something urgent that could have worsened by then? What happens if an appointment isn't available during half-term, or if the surgery is closed over Christmas/New Year?

Get your union involved - if you are ill or need a test and they are obstructing you from accessing medical care they will be in the shit.

Do they want you to die or something??

A couple of colleagues questioned it and there answer was that we don't work full time so we have between 3 and 6pm every day to see a doctor but if doctors don't offer times in the afternoon/ evening I don't know what you are supposed to do. They are Ok with hospital appointments just not GP's.

I have 2 colleagues who now see private GP's so they can choose times to suit them up to 7pm but i can't afford this,

Where I live there are 2 hospitals that have a drop in phloebotamy clinic - they start at 7am. One finishes at 5pm the other at 6.45. All you do is take the slip from the doctor which they can email to you. Can you ask about this?

This would be ideal but our hospital does not now take in walk ins. All doctors surgeries round here now do blood tests but always only in the morning and not before 8am. My parents live in a different health authority and there GP's don't do blood tests you have to go the hospital but can walk in to suit you which seems a much better service.

Absolutely this!

Just go to the appt. They would never be able to sack you for it.

Don't risk your health for any job. Call a sick day if you need to. The rules are ridiculous and unattainable.

I completely agree. Sod that! What if you had cancer or something?

Definitely isn't legal.

Does your local hospital have a blood clinic type of thing? Mine lets you walk in with your blood form from GP and you get your bloods done whenever they're open (I believe until 5pm ish)

If not, book in with GP, and call in sick from work on the day you have the appt.

You are worth more than they value you at.

Wtf! Can't believe what I am reading. Its a thankless working for public money these days. I'd go straight off sick due to mental health - stress at work - for this kind of batshit rule. I'm saddened to read there are apparently several schools around that have this policy too and staff that are willing to PAY to see a GP to stick to the rules. Utter bullshit. Tell them to go fuck themselves professionally OP.

This ridiculous and surely it's not morally right. Of course a teacher like any other human being may need to see a doctor!

If i worked with you I would never be able to see one,we have to ring between 9-11 (more like 500 times before 9.15) and appointments are on until 2pm then urgent only

Just tell them when you are going. If they say you can't, say you are. I bet they won't take it further and a union or court would just laugh at them if they did.

Call in sick, you need the appointment and they've made it impossible for you to go whilst working so you'll have to have it off sick.