Asked to change hospital appointment

[HappyKatieA]

Hi all,
I've been teaching 20 years, in current school 12. I'm well thought of, and hold a great position in the school (don't want to say too much as could be outing).
I had time off sick in the Autumn term of this year, I was signed off for 6 weeks, (since then I've been back and on it).
My GP had referred me whilst I was off, after many many blood tests, I then had to wait 6 months for a consultant app, I almost didn't go as I felt so much better.
I've now had the appointment (last week) and I've been diagnosed with a chronic illness that means my health will be up and down for the rest of my life.
I haven't told School, just HR, as it came as a bit of a shock, and I don't want people to think I can't do things as I probably want to change schools in the next few years for promotion.
I received a letter yesterday informing me of an appointment at the hospital n early July, to help me manage my condition. I've got one lesson that afternoon to cover.
I put in for cover today, but I've had an email back asking me to change the appointment as it's a tight day for cover that day.
Are they allowed to do this? It felt like a kick in the teeth as I purposefully haven't asked for my TOIL this year because I had so much time off in the Autumn term.
Many thanks in advance,
K

I don’t know but I wonder it makes a difference that they are just asking you to change it.

I would wait a couple of days and then say they are unable to give me another appointment in the time frame needed so I will need to go to that hospital appointment.

Thank you, that's what I was thinking of doing. I just feel a bit put out that I rarely take time off, never for anything that I can do in the holidays / at the weekend, so I thought that would be taken into consideration.
I do however think I'm a bit sensitive about it at the moment as I am still quite shocked at being diagnosed with this illness.

I would say it is enormously insensitive of them.

I am fairly sure that they cannot ask you to do that. Consult your union to double check though.

If you cancel that appointment you may not be offered another or you may wait another 6 to 12 months.
I have terrible problems around appointments. The hospital keep cancelling but threatening to chuck me off the list if I dont attend.
Just tell your employer it is not possible to change.
Mind you - dont be surprised if your appointment is cancelled on thd day. I have had 2 cancelled on the day this week.

They asked you to change your appointment, you say it’s not possible and you need to go to the appointment. Job done.

How can they be tight for cover in July?

Thank you all, my mind is made up. I will tell them I've tried, but that it's not possible. DH suggested I tell them I can change it, but give them a more difficult to cover day, on a morning, so four periods, not one! 🤔

Just a thought. How did you word the request? Are they aware it's a hospital appointment or could they think it's a routine GP or dentist appt you could easily reschedule?
Tell them you can't move it. Hope you are ok and good luck in the job search.

I had an appointment at our hospital for an inconvenient time so I rang them up and changed it for an after school appointment. It did mean missing the staff meeting but I thought they would prefer that to having to cover me. It is fairly simple at our hospital to phone up the booking office and if they had not had an appointment within a couple of days at a convenient time I would have just stuck to my original time. I am lucky though that our head teacher is really understanding and supportive but in return for her flexibility I try to be flexible too.

Can you arrange a friendly cover through someone in your department?

just get back to them and say no. Don't give them any reason or excuse, just say no

With you not telling the school of your dx they will not be aware of the importance so as far as they know it might be an appointment for checking a toe nail.

Whilst you may not want to maybe you should let someone (HT or at least AHT ic of staff welfare/cover) so they are aware and can take the necessary steps to support you

Thank you all, I'm on my phone and don't know how to reply to each of you, but I do appreciate your responses.
I attached a copy of the hospital letter, so it does say what it's for, and they can see the appointment is for an hour and a half.
I think I will call the hospital to try for a later appointment, but I'm not changing the date unless it can be made quite soon afterwards in the holidays.

I really had no idea they could ask me to change the appointment. I'm willing to take it unpaid.

Are you primary? That would explain why fight for cover Nobel! They shouldn’t ask but I suppose some things are easily changed, so they thought they would chance it.

We are tight for cover all year round noble as every Tom, Dick and Harry goes on D of E etc etc. And ,a s you know, we are understaffed..

Plenty of staff leaving my school this year even though we are all luxuriating in gained time.

Yes, I am sure it is no Utopia!

It depends how the request was worded.
When my school has been tight for cover, people try to get appointments start of the day, just after lunch or close to the end of the day where possible.

Mid morning appointments are awkward as often it's not worth coming in for 45 mins teaching and it'll be almost lunch by the time you get back so it's a full morning cover vs a 3pm appointment where you only need covering for the last part of the afternoon.

You don't have to move it, but certainly our local hospital you ring the appointment line and they give you some to choose from. I always pick the one that's least awkward.

I quite often change mine to help the school if they aren’t important.

But when l had a really important one, I didn’t change it.

But the thing is if you do change appointments, the hospital often asks why ( which k find really insensitive) and you are only allowed to change it one more time. Whilst l totally get the reasons for this, it would be much easier if you could choose your own time to go like a doctor or dentist.

Perhaps she had to do a Saturday taster day or something @Piggywaspushed

Perhaps carrots : I have heard of this in other schools but it is rare in our school. That said, where people have done stuff like come in at half term, they would be doing it out of the goodness of their own hearts. The bone of contention with us is that the recently introduced concept of TOIL has to be taken in our free periods.

Excuse me what? What the fucking fuck is that nonsense???

haha! I should get you to go and stand in my head's office and say that!

There are hospitals that offer a choice of appointment?
I can't even get any appointment without endless hassle and PALS involvement. Even had to get my MP involved at one stage.
Just trying to see a local specialist privately as the hospital has cancelled my appointment twice. I have to wait till September now. Was referred in March. Meanwhile my health deteriorates.
Employers should not be asking sick employees to cancel appointments.

Ignore it’s some jobsworth..., personally I rarely am absent and if it’s important the wording I use informs rather than asks. You’ve got enough to worry about ....tell them you are going (politely) and focus on you. I would suggest you have been given an insight into the care your organisation has for its staff who when dealing with an important issue. Good luck and hopefully the appointment goes well x

endof
Our hospital referrals are done via an appointments line. You get a letter with the number, you call up and then you can take your pick from whatever is available in the next few weeks.
It's not a full choice set up and you can't say I'll only do Tuesdays after 430, but you can say 'do you have earlier mornings preferably for work?' and if there is one then they'll do that for you. If you need repeat ones the same applies but you book with reception on your way out.

I suppose their logic is it cuts missed appointments. I have to say I only have great feedback from my experience and relative's experience of our local hospital.