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

[YourSparklyLimeTraybake]

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.

I was a teacher. I get the not being able to nip out for a medical appointment. But I would say, it sounds like your issue is a long term thing. Surely you could have foreseen your medication running out and the need for an appointment weeks ago, in which case you time things so you get all your medical appointments, hair appointments, etc in the holidays. If not, and it is imperative you get your medication immediately, you will just have to take a day's sick leave and book something for that day.

No one is indispensable OP. You will end up long term sick anyway if you neglect your own health at the expense of your job.

Doctors would cancel your long awaited procedure to attend to something personal, so no they don't get it. But neither should you. If you had a medical emergency that made you outgoing action, "the system" woukd find a way.

And the prize for the most ridiculous comment goes to….

Why? That's exactly what would, and has happened at the school I work at.

You need to prioritise your health. It’s up to you, not anyone else.

This is absolute nonsense. There are generally several options when a head is suddenly indisposed. Closing the school is very much a last resort.

Hardly - as a Governor I covered the role on many occasions.

The ‘Keeping Children safe’ guidance states that a DSL should be available during school hours. It’s a matter for individual schools or colleges to define what available means and in exceptional circumstances this can include phone, Skype or other such media. So whilst OP maybe working all hours god sends there’s no safeguarding requirement for her to be on the premises after say 3:30pm. Which should leave time to go to GP. Please prioritise your own health OP no one else will.

Precisely this. Realistically what is the probability of a child making a disclosure in the hour of absence for a blood test?

1. get a member of staff on DSL training asap bad planning this isn’t already a priority
2. get a supply in for half a day to release a teacher who can act up (good experience) but also take initial notes
3. ask the receptionist, pay a midday supervisor overtime to “be you” to make the initial appointment
4. Borrow a DSL from a neighbour school, the LEA, the MAT to cover, worst case Chair of Governors or governor in charge of SG

There are literally so many solutions to this martyrdom that I can’t believe anyone who can’t think them up should be allowed to run a school.

No generally this isn’t how it works ime. I have 6monthly appts with blood tests. It should be a 10 min test and then a 10 min chat with the consultant, but it’s usually arrive on time…wait 20-30 mins to go in, 5 min chat, go back out and wait another 20 to be called for blood test. Sometimes I’ve waited another hour. Plus there’s the travel time… 85mins for me.

There aren’t many professional jobs where nipping out is an easy option. Teachers can use their PPA time to go offsite now.

The difference being schools are closed for 13 weeks per year. If you had a condition that needs frequent reviews it would be super bad organisation not to be able to hit the fairway with that degree of latitude.

Yes, usually the deputy would be promoted to acting head (already done in OPs case). Quite likely further temporary promotions in house to cover the gaps. Usually you'd have more DSLs. The majority of schools are in MATs so can share staff in emergencies. I have heard of supply SLT, but never heard of a school use one. If there was a recently retired head/deputy I have heard of them being asked to temporarily step in as a stop gap.

But as the OP is already acting head and the other DSL is unreliable, it does sound like in this case there isn't a back up.

It will depend on the set up of the school.
In my last one there was
the Head
Deputy Head
4 Assistant heads
The DSL and 2 deputy DSLs
And various link governors.
And this was a fairly normal sized school.

As my gran used to say:The graveyards are full of the indispensable.........