Time off work for hospital appointments

[user627111]

Hi after some advice, I booked a week off work at the end of May due to having various appointments for cancer follow ups in a hospital over 3 hours away.
I have appointments on the Monday,Wednesday and Thursday so thought it would be better to stay near the hospital rather then travel everyday.
My manager at the time said it was fine but since then a new manager has started and says he can’t let me have the holiday as someone else has booked it off.
Does anyone know if he can refuse?

Have you told the manager what it’s for?

I am not a lawyer but. Cancer is automatically a disability under the equality act and you are entitled to reasonable adjustments. But your employer would need to know this is why you need it.

Disability/long term health conditions have a provision in law where an employer has to make reasonable adjustments. If they don't that's direction discrimination under the Equality Act 2010.

Your employer would be hard pressed to suggest that you attending hospital appointments using annual leave (from what you've written) could not be considered a reasonable adjustment.

Just respond and confirm that:

1. This had previously been approved
2. If they aren't willing to honour the previous approval you are formally requesting the time off as a reasonable adjustment

If they decline again, ask for confirmation in writing (on the basis that you need to speak to the hospital) but actually use it to escalate via HR/your union/complaints process.

Hope your treatment is going to plan