Time off work for appointments?

[Babyshart]

I have an appointment with the perinatal mental health team on Thursday, however I'm supposed to be at work. Due to using annual leave to make my working week easier for me I'm only in for a few hours, but my appointment falls right I'm the middle and it's not really feasible to go to work, leave for the appointment and then go back to work. I would be in work for a maximum of 45 minutes before having to leave for the appointment and then come back and only have an hour till I finish work.

Because I'm just about to start maternity leave I can't swap any of my annual leave time around because I don't have any left and there's not an appropriate day to swap to that isn't an option. Would I be entitled to paid time off for this appointment or do I need to take it off unpaid ?
It's not really relevant as such I suppose however during the whole of my pregnancy I've only missed a day of work due to sickness (umpaid) and I've managed so far to keep appointments outside of work so I havnt had to have any time off for them until now.

You are entitled to paid time off for antenatal appointments.

Would an appointment with the perinatal mental health team count or is it just with midwives and doctors though ?

It's still an antenatal appointment so you should have it paid. There is a limit to how many they have to pay you for though so it will depend on how many other appointments you've had. They have to let you have the time off either way and you shouldn't be expected to use annual leave just maybe unpaid. I can't remember off the top of my head how many are paid think it's something like 11

So far I havnt had any appointments in work time, so I've had no paid time off through out my pregnancy.

You're allowed as much paid time off as needed for any appointments or classes recommended by a midwife or doctor. Travelling time is also included. It should be 'reasonable' so if you had to travel for an hour to get to work and could only stay for 45 mins before leaving again that could be unreasonable to expect you to do it. But depending on circumstances they can ask you to go to work before and after the appointment.

Any antenatal care that is mandatory or recommended by a midwife, you should legally be paid for. Even arts and crafts classes count as long as they are recommended by a midwife.

OP the perinatal mental health team frequently includes a doctor or midwife, and even if they don't include these HCPs it counts as antenatal appointments for work purposes.

In my area you have one or two antenatal appointments with your GP and they count for work purposes even though it is essentially a GP appointment

I have a problem with getting time off/swapping days at work (we need minimum 4people at all times) and get paid on a clock in system (as although we may be rota'd for 8 hours if it's busy we could stay for an extra couple of hours) and no amount of me asking/telling them that it's the law I get paid time for antenatal appointments makes it any easier to get particular days/times off unless I can give atleast a weeks notice. Sorry, maybe it's not relevant but I can empathise with you.

The time off work should be paid as it's pregnancy related. I assume you can't move the appointment to an earlier or later time? If not then I would speak to your manager and explain that you gave tried to move your antenatal appointment (and make sure you use the word antenatal) but that it's not possible and consequently you'd only be in for 45 minutes beforehand and an hour afterwards and ask them what they want you to do. Hand the decision over to them. Personally I have done it myself where I've come into work only to leave again and then been in for a short period afterwards.

Thankyou everyone!
Unfortunately I can't change the appointment time, I've managed to make every other appointment I've had outside of work hours but this time it's just not been possible.
I've spoke to my employer who was less than helpful, suggested I use my overtime as time off in leui and not bother coming in.
I can sort of understand this, due to the nature of my work going before and after the appointment would be a bit of a waste of time as I would get very little done in the short amount of time I was actually there.

I'm pretty sure that isn't allowed OP.

I had appointments where sometimes only an hour was left after I'd finished the appointment. I just didn't come back in because it wouldn't make sense to be back for 5 mins and travel back home
Again

When I've had an appointment fall like that, I've worked from home that day so I still get something done, but guessing that isn't an option for you or you'd have said.

Your employer can't make you take leave to make it more convenient for them. They can request that you come in before/after, but you are entitled to the paid time off for the appointment. Rather than asking again, I would just send an email to the appropriate person/people stating that you have an antenatal appointment at x time on x day, so will be out for a few hours to attend it - don't open up a discussion about it.

When does your maternity leave start? Does using your overtime make things difficult? In some respects I'd just be inclined to do that - but get it in writing it's just for the bits that you would have otherwise been in the office.

Otherwise the other option is for you to go into work for the 45 mins before and then for the appointment to "run over" or be late, resulting in you not being able to get back to the office in time....