Time out for doctors appointments

[Clara35]

Hi all, does anyone know if you are entitled to time out for a doctor, hospital or dentist appointment. My employer always allowed an hour out for these things but now has changed rules and time out must be made up.

Your company may allow time out for medical appointments but they are under no legal obligation to pay you for this. They can insist that the time is made up or used from your holiday entitlement

This will give you all the information you need.

Has it been practise for a number of years? If so, it could be a change of contract under 'Terms implied by custom and practice'.

Brief explanation:
'When dealing with a particular employment problem, there may be no express contractual term covering the matter. In such a case, it is helpful to look at what has happened to other employees in the workplace. This is because if other employees have been given this right, you can argue that you also have the right under ?custom and practice'

This, however can be complicated and you would be best speaking to a union rep with regards to this.

We allow hospital appointment time but offer flexible time so dentist/Gp are in staffs own time.

I think that is normal, in my last job hospital appts were allowed in paid time because you don't normally get any say in the timing of them, but routine GP/dentist etc you were expected to make up the time or go outside work hours.

Thanks everyone for your replies. We obviously had it too good for all the years we didn't have to make time up! I'm part time so not an issue for me personally but was thinking of my full time colleagues. It was abused recently which is what has led to the change in rules.

If you have a disability which is covered by the DDA then the position is different. I do but have never worked anywhere where they make you take appointments out of holiday time. The assumption is always that you try and book them for the end/beginning of the day and make it up where possible which I have always done.