Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Doctors don't understand how difficult it is for me to see them.

141 replies

YourSparklyLimeTraybake · 02/12/2025 17:52

I work in leadership in a school. My direct boss is off sick long term and I am acting up. The next person in the line of succession is also not well and in and out sporadically. There isn't anyone else that can step in to cover, even if it's just for a short period of time. My school is very challenging.

I am incredibly stressed, working 7am til 7pm most days just to keep afloat. They don't take online bookings unless you're a Uni student, I am on duty at break and lunchtime, so can't call during the day.

I need a blood test and it's overdue. They now won't prescribe one of my medications until I get tested and then a separate appointment to be reviewed. I've tried to arrange both three times, and each time something has happened so I can't go, which means the second review appointment gets cancelled too, then I have to try to figure out how to find time to make the appointments again.

I don't know what else I can do and now I've run out of medication.

OP posts:
Soontobe60 · 02/12/2025 19:42

YourSparklyLimeTraybake · 02/12/2025 18:07

Okay. Thanks everyone.

I don't think my job is more important, and I have properly cancelled, not just left them waiting. Twice for behavioural incidents, once for a safeguarding disclosure. All three times, the next in line was also absent.

Thanks @Yesimmoaningaboutbenefits some really useful advice there. We do have a wellbeing advice line I could call, so I'll try that. I think I'll book for the holidays, although that means I'm without medication for two and a half weeks.

This is ridiculous. You’ve cancelled 3 times at short notice which would likely have meant that those appointment slots have been wasted.
I too work on school. We have several staff who can deal with safeguarding incidents - are you really the only one in your school?
I am the staff governor in my school. You need to speak to your staff governor and point out that the lack of senior staff is untenable. Then you need to book your appointment asap - try to get the first one of the day so you can get it done before even going into school (our surgery has appointments from 7.30 twice a week). You are doing nobody any favours by failing to put your health first.

Soontobe60 · 02/12/2025 19:44

Yesimmoaningaboutbenefits · 02/12/2025 18:03

I understand the difficulty @YourSparklyLimeTraybake

People don't understand that the school can't legally be open without a head/deputy/acting head. And you cannot send 100s of children home because you need a GP appointment.

How heavy is your teaching schedule? Would you be able to block out a morning to do a phone appointment? Check if the school subscribes to any wellbeing service, most do (but no-one uses them). They sometimes have a GP service. Register with Livy or one of these online GPS that can do a Saturday. For the blood test, some walk in blood test centers start at 7am. Could someone open the school and you'd be in before the children, just not first in. Or book now for the first appointment possible in the Christmas holidays.

Don't know if any of those would work, but some ideas if you haven't already tried them.

I doubt she can get a blood test over the phone! Plus, most schools end by 3.30 for the children.

PollyBell · 02/12/2025 19:46

If you dont care about yourself care about other patients who could have used your wasted slots, make the appointment turn up and stop thinking doctors are your PAs

FancyNewt · 02/12/2025 19:48

Give over. The school is empty every 6 weeks for at least a week at a time and the school closed by 3.30.

DrProfessorYaffle · 02/12/2025 20:25

This makes no sense at all.

By not prioritising the appointments you were carefully given (3 pairs so 6 in total) you are now going to be unmedicated for a long term condition.

It doesn't help the school for you to now be unmedicated And at greater risk of deterioration or event eetc.thid is oikely to end up eith you off sick for far longer than the 20 minutes a blood test would have taken.

Even behaviour incidents can wait. A different member of staff can sit in a silent room with the most heinous of offenders until you get back.

FusionChefGeoff · 02/12/2025 20:42

You’ve had 54 replies telling you to put your health first and book and attend an appointment asap.

Yet you’ve focussed on the 1 other Super Martyr who gave you ways to continue to ignore your own well-being in favour of an organisation that obviously doesn’t give a shit about you.

If you tripped and broke your ankle on the way in tomorrow, what would happen? You have to flag this with govenors or even the LA as a matter of extreme urgency.

Vitriolinsanity · 02/12/2025 20:49

Yep. You’re no good to anyone if you keel over. As an aside, does your school have EAP that would order the blood test?

ohyesido · 02/12/2025 20:54

I feel for you. Getting an appointment can involve a two hour wait on the phone and that’s if you’re quick enough to get a place in the queue.

there must be a way to secure an appointment through other channels have you tried Doctor Link?

Greybeardy · 02/12/2025 21:06

iSage · 02/12/2025 18:22

GPs seem to have no concept of people having to work for a living. They offer a phone appointment with no time specified - they can't even specify morning or afternoon.

Doctors definitely do understand….because we’re also humans who have healthcare needs (don’t think for one second that the nhs cares any more for our health than the OP’s school does!).

Ffififofum · 02/12/2025 21:12

Don’t wait. Just take a day off to arrange your blood test. Another day off for blood test.

If you’re without your medication for 2 weeks you’ll likely end up being off sick anyway!

Dont be a martyr. You're not much help to anyone if you don’t have your health.

DrProfessorYaffle · 02/12/2025 21:13

ohyesido · 02/12/2025 20:54

I feel for you. Getting an appointment can involve a two hour wait on the phone and that’s if you’re quick enough to get a place in the queue.

there must be a way to secure an appointment through other channels have you tried Doctor Link?

She got an appointment 3 times (and the 3 matching follow up appointments)

Depressedbarbie · 02/12/2025 21:19

kornwall · 02/12/2025 18:09

We are talking about a member of SLT being offsite for a brief medical appointment, not undergoing surgery under GA. If the school cannotbe open without this singular member of staff on site then they need to look at their contingency plans as a matter of urgency. If the OP were caught up in a traffic collision one day i doubt the school wouldn't open, arrangements would be made as they always are. Validating this sort of pressure on an indicvidual is not helpful

Show quote history

This is fine in theory, but in a small school it is incredibly easy for the best laid contingency plans to get fucked up. In work in a 1 form entry first school. Get a bug in, and staffing becomes a nightmare. You're the only DSL on site? You can't leave the site.

Depressedbarbie · 02/12/2025 21:20

Ffififofum · 02/12/2025 21:12

Don’t wait. Just take a day off to arrange your blood test. Another day off for blood test.

If you’re without your medication for 2 weeks you’ll likely end up being off sick anyway!

Dont be a martyr. You're not much help to anyone if you don’t have your health.

You can't take leave when you want though. The only way to do this would be to call in sick on the day.

TalulahJP · 02/12/2025 21:20

You cannot go without meds.
you must maje an appointment

re the school
they are breaking the law if you don’t get sufficient breaks.
you need to hire more staff URGENTLY

and, for your own good i need to tell you, that you will burn out shortly and be off long term sick wirh ME chronic fatigue. It’s a permanent thing. It derails your entire life. Dont risk it. It’s not worth it. It will destroy you.

Start taking health seriously and put measures in place to ensure the law isn’t being broken and that all staff are treated well. Including you.

Depressedbarbie · 02/12/2025 21:21

I think people who work in larger set ups don't get the juggling

MellowPinkDeer · 02/12/2025 21:21

Aliflowers · 02/12/2025 17:53

You make time. Simple as that. While I appreciate you’re busy ultimately your health comes first. You’re choosing to put your job before it

As ever, first post nails it. You are making these choices. Make different ones!

Depressedbarbie · 02/12/2025 21:22

That said, I think you do have to prioritise yourself, and if the other dsl's are off sick, or regularly going off sick, you will have to go to governers. I get it. But you need medication.

Hungryhippos123 · 02/12/2025 21:22

Depressedbarbie · 02/12/2025 21:20

You can't take leave when you want though. The only way to do this would be to call in sick on the day.

Show quote history

Then you have to do this!

gogomomo2 · 02/12/2025 21:23

Does your surgery have extended hours on any days, mine you can book for routine med review type things if you are working in specific slots. The nurse is separate and easy to book, she’s there until 6pm

Depressedbarbie · 02/12/2025 21:25

Hungryhippos123 · 02/12/2025 21:22

Then you have to do this!

Show quote history

I guess so. But the guilt - the school may not be able to open. It's easy to say, hard to do.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 02/12/2025 21:25

We have drive through blood tests open until 6:30 in our city.

BlackCatGoesHome · 02/12/2025 21:25

Change surgeries.

Tickingcrocodile · 02/12/2025 21:26

Are your blood tests bookable online? Find one for after the end of the school day so at least that is done. Try a private online GP to see if they will prescribe you medication in the short term then book review appointment for the Christmas holidays.

FrippEnos · 02/12/2025 21:29

Eventually you will work yourself in to the ground and have to go off sick.
You say that you are not prioritising the job but you are.
You need to sort out the appointment and go.
If you talk to the GP surgery they may be able to put you in first thing in the morning.
As in the nurse will come in at 0800 to take your blood. I have had to do this with blood tests and blood pressure monitoring.

Crushed23 · 02/12/2025 21:38

None of this sounds like it’s your doctor’s fault though? She’s not the one cancelling your appointments. You’re just going to have to find the time. What about during the upcoming school holidays?