Hospital Appointments

[squidward]

Hi, A little advice needed please!

 

My wife has been recently diagnosed with RA although her employer is and has been very good, her line manager has asked her to arrange her hospital appointments on her day off.

 

The specialist she see's only makes appointments on set days these are during my wife working hours. She has about 2 -3 hospital appointments per month while they get her medication and treatment sorted.

 

The question is - can they ask her to do this ?

 

I thought they had to allow employees time for hospital dental appointments and similar.

 

Many Thanks

 

Squidward

[scousegeezer]

Squidward,

With something like RA, your wife will be covered by the Disability Discriminatiion Act. She has an ongoing condition which has lasted and wil last more than 12 months. Therefore the company should allow her time off for the appointments. There is an organisation, who's name I cannot remember at the moment, who will pay something like £2,000 a year to the compamy to compensate them for your wifes time off work to attend the appointments. They cannot stop her attending the appointments under The DDA. Hope this helps.

 

Cheers - Scousegeezer.

[squidward]

Thanks SG

 

I will do some research on the Disability Discrimination Act. My wife Doesn't want to cause any problems at work but she feels a bit put out having to either make up the time or use hours that are owed to her when other staff members just seem to be able to take the time - albeit not as often.

 

If you remember the organisation who compensate the employer could you post it up or pm me!

 

Cheers for your reply

 

Squidward

[scousegeezer]

Squiddy,

The organisation is called the Shaw Trust. Just Google them and they will come up.

 

Cheers - SG

[chesham]

Employers, by law, are not required to allow workers to attend hospital, dental or doctor appointments during the time which they are at work (except pregnant women)

 

However, if the appointments are connected with a condition which is classed as a disability, an employer must make reasonable allowances for the disability, and allowing time off for medical appointments is considered to be a 'reasonable allowance'. If you are unsure about whether or not you fall under the definition of a disabled person in the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act, then you can seek advice from your local Citizen's Advice Bureau.