Retinopathy appts

[owensmum]

My employer has up til now been fine with the fact I can't see after my test and, as long as I've worked the morning, is ok for me to take the rest of the day off as paid without having to make the time up. Enter the new boss and now if I go and don't come back (as I can't see!!) I have to make the time up! Do I have any recourse to challenge this? The full time shifts I do are built around childcare so I simply don't have time available to make up time. This means it would have to be unpaid absense or go against me as a sick absense strike. This would then mean I wouldn't be able to attend the appointments as I can't afford to lose money. Any one else faced this? Thanks!

 

[himtoo]

Hi there
I have been going through opthalmology appointments( twice a year or sometimes more) now for about 26 years and in that time have worked for 3 different employers
2 let me have the time off no problems , the 3rd had a policy of if you're not in work you don't get paid.
( some people used holiday time for doctor appointments.)
i took it unpaid

I am not sure on the actual LEGAL side of things but the bump may help others to see the topic.

all the best !!

 

[noblehead]

I don't think there is any obligation by employers to pay for time off for hospital appointments, usually you'd expect (like your first boss @owensmum) they would be very accommodating and allow you to make the time up or pay you.

I've attended the Ophthalmology clinic for around 20 years and never had any issues, usually I've either made the time up for the appointment, been working shifts which has allowed me to attend in my own time or fortunately have just paid.

 

[CarbsRok]

Can you not make sure your apt is at the end of the day so you don't miss any more than an hour off work? Your employer does not have to pay you for hospital visits, why should he? Time is money so they say.

 

[Chook]

I know all hospital trusts are different but when I get the letter with the appointment details it also gives info so that I can change my appointment to one more convenient on the retinopathy department website if I want to.

 

[Mrsass]

I have to arrange my appointments out of work also as I wouldn't be paid, I'm lucky that I can work a weekend and have a day off through the week or do an early shift but if you don't have them options I think you probably will have to take it unpaid, as already suggested could you maybe ask for the last appointment of the day so you aren't losing as much time from work? I know it's a pain but you definitely want to keep going to your appointments so i think that might be your best option

 

[owensmum]

The appointments are done thru Paula Carr at my doctors sugery and are very limited.

 

[Red shaw]

Hi
I react to the eye drops as they are too strong. I tend to still be dilated the next day. This gives me terrible headaches.
So I've now had the last 2 photos done without them. The technician is always a bit sceptical, but it works a treat. They need to get the room dark and you should close your eyes between photos. I have got blue eyes and am very reactive to light.
It's worth a go next time.

 

[owensmum]

Hmm... would that work with dark eyes? Mine are black..

 

[jnk001]

I think it must vary , unless different opticians use different drops , I don't tend to have a problem except at the newsagent or shop on the easy home I think they assume I'm on drugs due to huge pupils. When I,be had the drops waiting to take effect I use stronger ready readers to read . usually I use a plus 1 but need a plus 3 when the drops start to take effect

 

[Red shaw]

I think there are different strength drops but they only have the one strength when they visit my doctors surgery.
It does make me long sighted but I also find I am VERY sensitive to light for a couple of days. It's not worth the headache.

 

[BeccyB]

I react to the eye drops as they are too strong. I tend to still be dilated the next day. This gives me terrible headaches....... I have got blue eyes

I have the same problem with headaches and a nurse administering the drops told me that blue eyes take a lot longer to get back to normal, no idea why?!

 

[AndBreathe]

My understanding is your employer must allow you to take time off for medical issues, but they are not required to pay you for the time you are away.

If you work for a larger company or organisation, you should be able to source their official policy on absence, which should cover these circumstances. It could be previous managers have simply not applied the policy, for either goodwill or they viewed it cost more to do the admin to trim your pay than just pay it, or it could be your current manager is mistaken in his/her approach.

I'd advise you seek out the official policy and read it. That will tell you all you need to know. Most places will have the policy on an intranet site, so that it is easily accessible. Alternatively, if it's a smaller organisation, it may be in a folder somewhere. But, these policies (there will be plenty of them) are the company's rule book/guidelines for whatever each policy covers.

 

[Scimama]

Hi @owensmum would you be able to work a bit of your lunch break for as many days as needed to make up the time?

Or go back into work, show your boss your enlarged pupils under your sunglasses and work super slow (I always look very scary after the drops!). Or would you be able to arrange childcare for the day (maybe a playmate with another child if school age) and have a later eye appointment.

Typically I take unpaid leave for mine but I have had to take my child with me in the past, as the test is so quick its not usually a problem.

 

[Positivo]

I hope this helps: I was told some years ago by a Guide Dogs Association bloke that I would probably lose my sight. It turned out that he was selling me a pup (Sorry). When Accident and Emergency referred me to their Ophthalmology Department for a sore eye, the first of two superb Consultants who have dealt with me said that loss of sight was nonsense: "We can cure that" And they have. It has been a long process including eyelid operations to cure eye lashes ingrowing.

BUT and this is the real point: I no longer have that diabetic related eye problem. It has indeed been a long haul, with quite a few injections, steroids, and buckets of eye drops. I first knew how the improvement was speeding up when I lately realised I could see my computer screen better without glasses. I can read the use by date on food items again. Yesterday I had a check-up. Glaucoma fears have been removed (eye pressure 12 and 12, Left and Right). Chart tests two full lines better than previously. I even managed to read quite well down the small print close-up card with the left eye, previously a total blur

Can you believe that many of the people who helped me most were some of those greedy selfish money-grubbing Junior Doctors being vilified in the media? Wonderfully kind technical staff, theatre and clinic nurses, and a specialist nurse who used the YAG laser on me - more fun than an arcade game. Never once have they failed to protect me from any real pain.

I keep reminding myself that many of the procedures and treatments I have had would probably have been impossible say twenty years ago.

 

[owensmum]

I work 9 to 5 with a half hour lunch so making up time is a massive issue.