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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Medical appointments when work in a school

58 replies

gracebros56 · 07/10/2024 21:06

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.

OP posts:

sesamebagels · 07/10/2024 21:41

stichguru · 07/10/2024 21:34

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.

I would do this vs taking a sick day. Keep your own slate clean.

dreamer24 · 07/10/2024 21:42

gracebros56 · 07/10/2024 21:20

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,

Can you say it's a hospital appointment then instead of a GP? Will they ask for proof?

AgainandagainandagainSS · 07/10/2024 21:45

This is utter bollocks! Preventing people from accessing medical care is inhuman. Call in sick and tell them why. You need your tests and treatment.

Drizzlethru · 07/10/2024 21:47

I can’t miss work for blood tests and now a blood test has to be booked, rather than turn up and wait it is a nightmare.

helpfully in my area there are two places that you can book other than the Gp. So I go online and book there fro after work. Usually have to wait 3 weeks but it sounds a bit better than your situation,

can you put a post on your social media group about where people go for blood tests after 3.30? I never go to my Gp for them now,

modgepodge · 07/10/2024 21:50

This is absolutely disgraceful.

I would absolutely contact your union about it and see what they say.

if all else fails, I’d book an appointment, not tell them and call in sick. In fact, I’d be inclined to take a couple of days, citing the symptoms for which you need to see a GP/get a blood test getting worse, most likely due to you not being able to see a doctor due to their rules.

also, look for a new job. Not all schools are like this. I have never worked in one which wouldn’t allow time off for medical appointments if it was unavoidable. I couldn’t work for people who treated their employees like this.

HeliosPurple · 07/10/2024 21:51

I am SLT in a school and this is utterly ridiculous. Ofsted are very hot on well-being (the irony) and as far as I'm concerned, looking after your staff is a huge part of well-being.

If your SLT continue down this line I would go to the Chair of Governors and then look for another job.

DisappearingGirl · 07/10/2024 21:56

That is just sickening. I would be so upset to think that my kids' lovely teachers were having to wait from early September to late October just to see a doctor. And many GP surgeries don't let you book far in advance, so there would be no guarantee you'd get an appointment at half term.

Ripppples · 07/10/2024 22:03

As others say, make the appointment and call in sick or if it’s something that will require multiple appointments then get signed off.

Neither are things I’d usually advise in regular circumstances but what other option have you got? There will always be another job but you only get one body.

FluffyDiplodocus · 07/10/2024 22:06

That’s absolutely disgraceful, definitely seek union advice and make the appointment!

My school isn’t perfect by a long shot, but my headteacher has in the past few years given me paid time off for appointments for me, medical appointments for my kids, SEND meetings at my kids AND grants leave for special things like children’s first days of school and Christmas plays. She also gave me a hell of a lot of flexibility when I had a parent seriously ill in hospital - half days as needed and allowed me to skip meetings to fit visiting hours. It’s a challenging inner city school, but the understanding that I have a life outside of work is the reason I’m not job hunting.

listsandbudgets · 07/10/2024 22:08

You'd have no hope with my GP surgery.

You can opt for telephone appointment slots either between 8 and 12 or between 2 and 6 - and yes you do have to be available for the full 4 hours - and just hope you're early in the slot

What would the school say if you broke your leg... wait until half term to get it sorted?

Ozanj · 07/10/2024 22:11

Talk to the GP and make a complaint if needed. It’s disgusting they won’t offer tests all day. If it’s planned in advance and related to a medical condition they should be able to do anything for you or arrange it with another GP.

As for school I understand their point. You only work part time so 3-6 should be when you book elective appointments.

ThePoshUns · 07/10/2024 22:11

That's ridiculous! My GP surgery we don't get to choose when you get an appointment, you get what you're given.
Luckily I have a job where we aren't expected to take time off for health appointments.

Musicaltheatremum · 07/10/2024 22:13

Ozanj · 07/10/2024 22:11

As for school I understand their point. You only work part time so 3-6 should be when you book elective appointments.

Edited

With blood tests sometimes the latest pick up for the lab is late morning so make sure you know the facts before complaining

WombatStewForTea · 07/10/2024 22:15

Do you work in an academy @gracebros56 ? Sounds like the stupid rules academies follow.

What's your job role? If you're a teacher can you arrange it during your PPA? Otherwise call in sick. Your health comes first

Starlightstarbright3 · 07/10/2024 22:18

can you only get bloods at Gp. We use swift queue which gives you appointments at all local hospitals.

that said another reason teachers are leaving - your health matters .

i phoned my manager last Friday got an Gp appointment Saturday ( I was working) she was fine I went to appointment before coming to work late , I told her it was another 2 weeks if I didn’t take this appointment - her words - take the appointment we need to support your health - this should be school’s response too.

WeMeetInFairIthilien · 07/10/2024 22:19

My school and MAT have the same policy. All planned GP and dentist appointments must be made for outside school hours.

Which means that they have to be in holiday time.

I needed to see a GP with an urgent problem, and wasn't prepared to wait the 7 weeks left of term. So I booked the appointment and took the day off sick.

Good job I did, really. The GP put me on the two week pathway, I shudder to think what would have happened if it had been left for almost 2 months more.

TicketyBoo11 · 07/10/2024 22:19

Just about to say the same thing. If you are a Teacher take it on a PPA session, surely that would be allowed…no cover required, no extra cost for the school.

scotstars · 07/10/2024 22:21

Ridiculous rule - I would phone in sick and wouldn't feel guilty..

NeverDropYourMooncup · 07/10/2024 22:25

I worked in a school where the Head tried that rule for all appointments, including hospital ones.

The policy had been quietly shelved by the time I returned from three months off sick and a comprehensive grievance investigation which was found in my favour.

My current place says 'Have you got an appointment? Have you got a text to show us? When do you need to leave/will be coming in, roughly?'.

Kitkatfiend31 · 07/10/2024 22:28

Schools get away with this type of treatment because staff put up with it. Email the head explaining that you need to go to an appt in school time and why. Use the term 'wellbeing' in the email if you can. If they say no you have it in writing and can take it to your union. Reply to a no email saying you will now be discussing it with your union. Also forward to chair of govs. Be annoying and ruffle feathers otherwise this type of behaviour will never stop.

ColdinSeptember · 07/10/2024 22:42

Are the symptoms affecting your ability to work at all, if so I would ask them for an OH referral. Whatever guidance they are given in that they will follow.

But I would also ask by email about the appointment, you can link to your doctors website if it’s on there. I’d also mention your symptoms and if it’s effecting your work. I worked in HR for a MAT and I would absolutely have stuff in writing, never just ask verbally! Get a paper trail started.

They are awful and I do remember them asking people to put off operations they had been on waiting years for, until the holidays. Like the NHS will just book you in at convenience. And yes they will ask people who’ve broken their legs to come in the next day etc. when they clearly can’t.

Just before I left they eased up because they realised this tough policy wasn’t getting absence down at all, in fact it was going up! I don’t know what happened but it was moving to more early support for issues instead.

LoftLaughLoads · 07/10/2024 23:00

Your employers do not have the right to force you to jeopardise your health for them. If you need a blood test you need it. Blood tests have to be done in the morning because they get couriered to the analysis lab at about 11am and the tests done that afternoon. Delaying tests could exacerbate serious health problems. Do you think schools would have the right to say "wait till half term" if a staff member was on the two-week-consultant-referal pathway for cancer? Of course not. And there's plenty of other nasty non-cancer things out there which go away quicker if nipped in the bud quickly. It's stupid to make people wait for treatment if it means you are off sick for longer due to delaying treatment.

Get the blood test as early as you can on a morning that avoids the worst day of the week (if there is one). Don't apologise for needing this.

Frontedadverbials · 07/10/2024 23:05

I'm a teacher. I'd ask whether they preferred if you took the whole day off sick or the couple of hours needed for the appointment. As pps have said, there is no way they can actually enforce this if you operate in a transparent manner. Getting them to put some of their ridiculous suggestions in writing might also make them reconsider...

Pomegranatecarnage · 07/10/2024 23:15

Ozanj · 07/10/2024 22:11

As for school I understand their point. You only work part time so 3-6 should be when you book elective appointments.

Edited

8-3.30 then probably two hours of preparation and marking is not part time.

readysteadynono · 07/10/2024 23:18

I managed school staff, this not normal. Sure it's absolutely best if you can avoid medical appointments in school time but very often this simply isn't possible and no reasonable school would insist on this. I can't comment on the legalities but it's definitely immoral.

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