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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Help, am I allowed to request a dating scan at the weekend?

42 replies

Stardelight · 02/05/2023 10:58

Call me dim, but can I request a dating scan on a weekend? I work during the week and so does the baby's father who wants to be there at the scan. I'm 13+5 and I have my booking appointment tomorrow, it's late due to me being ill and unable to attend my previous appointment. God knows when my dating scan will be but I was hoping it could be done on the weekend or preferably tomorrow as I have that day booked off. Can I refuse a weekday appointment as I just can't get the time off work.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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MyPurpleHeart · 02/05/2023 12:31

My husband asked if I could change our NHS scan to the weekend as it was more convenient and I told him, this is the NHS, you get what you are given.

When booking my whooping cough vaccine at the GP there was a pregnant lady in front of me trying to move her midwife appointment as it clashed with her hair appointment and she was firmly told by the receptionist 'this is the appointment we have available, I suggest you choose which one is priority!'

MaggieFS · 02/05/2023 12:54

Op, you won't get 'in trouble' for not attending your NHS scan per se, but it means you NHS care providers won't have all of the info needed to give you and your baby the best possible care. It also means if your private scan picks something up, you'll be at the back of the queue (again) for an NHS appointment and the first thing they'll probably do is scan you, which you could just have had done with them in the first place.

IMHO given your history, I'd really try and stick to the NHS appointments.

Sorry it's so hard, the logistics sound tough.

Charlieiscool · 02/05/2023 13:03

The private scans won’t be part of the NHS records that your obstetrician and midwives see. You should have the scans when and where they offer to ensure the right people know your situation. You will be too late for the NT test as it is.

SatsumaSplit · 02/05/2023 13:11

Isn't it 6.5 hours paid time per appointment you can take? And PP are right, you don't need to make up those hours. This is within your rights OP, tell your employer what's happening. If you end up with a high risk condition you might have an appointment every week so it's best they get used to this now!

Shinyandnew1 · 02/05/2023 13:21

Our sonography department wasn’t open at all at weekends. When I miscarried over the weekend, I had to wait till it was open on Monday morning for a scan.

leanneb94 · 02/05/2023 13:28

Do you have the option of working from home, is home closer to the hospital?

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 02/05/2023 13:45

You could ask for a later afternoon appt and see if they can facilitate that, then you'd only need a half day off work as could leave after lunch

Littlegoth · 02/05/2023 13:48

@SatsumaSplit The time allowed for mothers is ‘reasonable’. That would cover travel and appointment but there isn’t a limit out on this. If it takes 90 minutes to get there and 90 minutes to get back, and the appointment is 2 hours then that’s how long it takes.

6.5 hours per appointment for 2 appointments only applies to the father or partner and is unpaid. Many organisations allow paid leave for partners too though.

Lakeside88 · 02/05/2023 13:56

My hospital seem to offer evening slots so give them a call and see if they can get you in after work? I understand what your saying and although my work are very flexible I'm not ready to tell anyone yet so wouldn't claim leave for maternity appointment at this stage

jamtomorrow1 · 02/05/2023 14:12

I had similar problems with antenatal appointments. I spoke to the senior nurse at my first hospital appointment in the consultant's clinic and asked if it would be possible to consolidate appointments so that I could have a scan, a consultant appointment, bloods etc all on the same day. It's always worth speaking to people about this. I was usually able to get the first or last appointment of the day so I didn't lose a full day at work, and on occasion even able to get a weekend appointment. It's quite right that employed women are entitled to time off for these appointments but it's not always that easy - particularly if mothers are self employed and losing money with each day at hospital - and my experience was that the hospital did their best to help.

Cdoc · 02/05/2023 17:01

I’m not sure if it’s the same booking system but 3 of my nhs growth scans were on a Saturday. I didn’t request that, just how they were scheduled. My 12 and 20 week scans were both midweek though

DollyP88 · 02/05/2023 18:26

In my experience, they aren’t v flexible with appointments (not in my hospital or my relatives) because, as many have already said, work should just let us attend our maternity appointments. You need to get your dating scan/tests done by a certain gestational age I believe (can’t remember at what point off the top of my head) so I wouldn’t keep pushing it.

DollyP88 · 02/05/2023 18:36

Also OP, I would be looking for a new job in the near future if I felt like you about taking time off because of a toxic environment, to use the word you used. If you can’t get time off for something like important maternity appointments like the dating scan (which is legal), I can’t imagine them being any better with the challenges having two little ones presents when they constantly pass their illnesses onto one another. Good luck. Please try not to be pressured by them. I know it’s easier said than done.

Original poster

Stardelight · 02/05/2023 22:07

They are a nightmare. I have a 7 year old and the manager is awful. I took 30 minutes off work to take him to a doctor's appointment and she asked why his dad couldn't take him. I said it's no one's business and she it is if it affects my business. She is a bully.

OP posts:

RhubarbandCustardYummyYummy · 03/05/2023 20:26

Surely taxis solve most of the issue and are cheaper than private scans? Issue with private tests is the results aren’t shared with the nhs

Ged94 · 04/05/2023 07:00

Your work sound terrible, look up acas and maternity action for your rights, they're simple and really good.

You are entitled to "reasonable" paid time off for you're antenatal appointments. Which is basically anything. You'll have an appointment a week at the end so they may as well get used to it now.

They also can't force you to take maternity leave even if you're off sick for a pregnancy related reason until 36 weeks. Your husband is entitled to ask for leave for two appointments so he could take a few hours off and drive you then go back to work ? I only ever havet husband at the scans cause that's the fun hit ussually.

I'd look for a new employer after your mat leave, they sound awful

CocoPlum · 05/05/2023 12:52

For those saying "change hospital" - it's not always that simple.

In my county many women are sent to the one main hospital. The other nearest ones are on the county borders at least an hour's drive from this one. It's perfectly possible to need to take over an hour on the bus to the hospital from where I live (only 20 mins drive/5 miles away) as you need to go into the main town, change buses, and out again.

OP - contact ACAS or Pregnant then Screwed. Your workplace sounds awful and if you did lose your job for taking your rightful time off whilst pregnant you could probably take them to a tribunal. Please put your health first.

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