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Original poster

Booked emergency hospital appointment

134 replies

dchange · 07/12/2021 19:41

I booked a hospital appointment in the morning for 1pm (only slot). This clashed with a meeting that lasted 10 minutes. I told my boss immediately I won't be able to join. I then speak with him latter and goes on to say how weird it is that I had a hospital appointment last minute and he would like to get details of my hospital.

In last 2 years I have taken 1 sick day.

Is this crazy or am I going crazy!

OP posts:
daisypond · 07/12/2021 21:55

I have several times had last-minute, urgent hospital appointments - for the same day or the next day. I don’t get a letter for the appointment, but I may get a text confirmation.

ItsSnowJokes · 07/12/2021 21:57

If the OP is this obtuse at work I can understand why her boss may have a problem with her.

FindTheSilverLining · 07/12/2021 21:59

I’m pregnant and having to show evidence of EVERY appointment I have… does feel a little insulting that they don’t trust me but hey ho. My GP sends a text to confirm each appointment so I just send a screenshot of that.

MuthaHubbard · 07/12/2021 21:59

My employer allows hospital appointments in works time as you don't get to chose when that appointment is, the hospital does. If required, they would ask for copy of appointment letter.
GP appointments are to be taken in own time as you can usually chose day/ye that suits (ie before/after work, lunch etc)

MuthaHubbard · 07/12/2021 22:02

So there is very much a difference in using the word hospital and GP
And this has been the same policy for the 21 yrs I've worked there

TitoMojito · 07/12/2021 22:05

Even with a preexisting medical condition that required routine GP appts, my former workplace still expected me to show proof of my appointments. I didn’t like doing it either but that was the fuel.

TitoMojito · 07/12/2021 22:05

*rule not fuel ffs

daisypond · 07/12/2021 22:31

How can people be expected to get a gp appointment in non-work time? I’m baffled. I leave home for work at 6:30am, I get back at 6:30pm. I commute an hour and 30 mins each way. I work full time. I clearly can’t get a gp appointment before work, or lunchtime, or generally after work - it depends if gp has a later closing time. I have to go in work time. There’s no choice.

mrsm43s · 07/12/2021 23:00

@daisypond

How can people be expected to get a gp appointment in non-work time? I’m baffled. I leave home for work at 6:30am, I get back at 6:30pm. I commute an hour and 30 mins each way. I work full time. I clearly can’t get a gp appointment before work, or lunchtime, or generally after work - it depends if gp has a later closing time. I have to go in work time. There’s no choice.
Some surgeries have evening sessions or even Saturday sessions. Or telephone consultations during lunchtime/before or after work. Or You take annual leave! Or make up the hours on another day. Or work from home that day and take the first/last slot of the day or the lunchtime slot.

Basically lots of employers give "good grace" hours for hospital appointments, because they're rare, inflexible and often (although not always) signify a serious illness/condition.
They don't offer the same "good grace" for GP or Dentist appointments. So you need to arrange them in your own time, make up the hours or take leave. It's not unreasonable. You're not entitled to be paid when you're not working!

Divebar2021 · 07/12/2021 23:12

So grateful I work for my employer and don’t have to deal with this…. I can have up to 4 hours for Drs appointments wherever they are.

daisypond · 07/12/2021 23:28

I can’t work from home at all - it’s not permitted - so I can’t just do that purely to get a GP appointment. How can people make up the hours on another day? The office is shut. I have very frequent hospital appointments, but I can’t see a GP? Thankfully, my employer gives time off for both hospital appointments and GP appointments- but I see that many don’t.

WonderfulYou · 08/12/2021 06:02

Some surgeries have evening sessions or even Saturday sessions. Or telephone consultations during lunchtime/before or after work.
Or You take annual leave!
Or make up the hours on another day.
Or work from home that day and take the first/last slot of the day or the lunchtime slot.

Back in the real world - most jobs it’s not possible to work from home, make up the hours on another day or use your annual leave.
That means any evening appointments (which are already rare) are going to be quickly taken by the majority of people who don’t have the luxury to do the above.

LionPhish · 08/12/2021 12:12

I mean if I waited until a Saturday for a GP appointment for deteriorating asthma, hell if I even waited until I finished work that day, I'd be having a hell of a lot more days off as would be hanging out in critical care.

Same day GP appointment = immediate nebulisers = back to work the same day.

I think people who say they can wait for these appointments don't have serious or chronic illnesses.

Skyll · 08/12/2021 12:14

Same day GP appointment still isn’t a hospital appointment though.

LionPhish · 08/12/2021 12:17

Skyll it is if it's in a hospital...

Skyll · 08/12/2021 12:22

It’s still a GP appointment, not a hospital appointment.

Roundeartheratchriatmas · 08/12/2021 12:28

Well if you lie about other things because “they’re the same in your mind” Hmm no wonder your boss doesn’t trust you.

RB68 · 08/12/2021 12:33

no idea why you are arguing about taking gp appts in work time - fundamentally at the moment no one has a choice you get what you are given or go private

willithappen · 08/12/2021 13:22

Some people are so pressed about it being called a hospital appointment 🙈😂
Either way, workplaces should allow these. As PP has said, gotta take what you are given just now!
The wording isn't the problem here. The problem is workplaces that should be allowing for these types of visits that are required

Cherrytart23 · 08/12/2021 14:03

You obviously have confused your boss like you have confused us all he never asked you for proof he asked for hospital details maybe he needs to visit a hospital and thinks he can get a last min appointment there instead. Gp surgery and hospitals are 2 different things regardless of the building its in.

Original poster
dchange · 08/12/2021 15:12

To add further clarity. The question about hospital appointment or GP was irrelevant. The issue here was he requesting for details and name of my hospital. It was agreed in our policy that this is not required. However, I should let him know about my appointment.

However, during the call my boss then said he had looked at my diary and over the last 2 months there have been 6 doctors appointments. I was shocked when he said this so had to look at my diary over the last 6 months. It's come to my attention that all the reminders where my husband has an appointments or has taken my daughter for an appointment was in my diary. He had assumed that I was out for the appointments. Also what's bizzare is on one of those so called appointments in my diary I had attended a meeting with him where he could see me on camera at my desk for a 2 hr meeting! The appointments I had which was 2 over the last 6 months he was aware.

The conclusion was I just need to label my appointments better as I have done the right thing about informing him.

So all good!

OP posts:
SantaHat · 08/12/2021 17:52

So glad to hear this is a complete mountain out of a molehill.

Kite22 · 08/12/2021 20:55

However, during the call my boss then said he had looked at my diary and over the last 2 months there have been 6 doctors appointments. I was shocked when he said this so had to look at my diary over the last 6 months. It's come to my attention that all the reminders where my husband has an appointments or has taken my daughter for an appointment was in my diary. He had assumed that I was out for the appointments. Also what's bizzare is on one of those so called appointments in my diary I had attended a meeting with him where he could see me on camera at my desk for a 2 hr meeting! The appointments I had which was 2 over the last 6 months he was aware.

This gets weirder and weirder.
Why would you put your husband 's appt in your work diary ??? Confused I think it is a pretty reasonable assumption that if a Manager looks at your work diary and it says "Doctor's appointment" that (s)he would be reasonable to assume that meant you were at a doctor's appointment.

MuthaHubbard · 09/12/2021 09:48
Hmm
DicklessWonder · 09/12/2021 11:56

Amazed someone apparently earning “six figures” as a “senior consultant” would struggle so much with this very basic concept. Hmm