do i have to take a days holiday for childs hospital visits?

stolt

Sorry wasnt sure where to post this, for the last two years my youngest (aged 3) has had juvenile arthritis, about 18months ago they thought they had it under control and for some reason she has gone back to when it was first discovered, although she has been happier in herself over Christmas she still struggles most days. Great Ormond street have decided as well as methytrexate they are going to apply to put her on enbral (sorry not sure of the spelling) this needs funding as it costs about 10K . This year and last I nearly used all the 4weeks of holiday I get a year on different visits to the rheumatology department and Great Ormond street, eye tests etc, and differing clinics of some nature. We managed to get three days out this summer holiday with our other two daughters but I really wanted to treat them to a week away this year. (Doesn't even have to be abroad)

We were hoping that now she is on a higher dose of methytrexate then it would help but it has only a little bit so we were hopeful that this year would calm down a bit and there wouldn't be so many appointments.

If I have genuine hospital visits for the children do I have to take a day’s holiday from work?

molerat

You do not have to take holiday, you can use unpaid parental leave. http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/layer?r.l1=1073858787&r.l3=1080898069&topicId=1080898069&r.t=RESOURCES&r.i=1080910071&r.l2=1080898061&r.s=sc&tc=000KWBERR2011701185

space_rider

I have 2 chronically ill children and as I work part time I am normally able to make up the hours I`ve needed for hospital appointments. My company have been really good with helping me with time off but I always have to make up the hours.

Do you work full time? could you not ask for earlier or late appts so you don`t have to have a full day off. One of my daughters has a form of arthritis and the methotextrate didn`t work at all for her. They suggested a really powerful drug but I did research and asked them to try something else which is working.

pramsay13

As I understand it, if something unexpected happens such as child falling ill you can take the first day off (paid leave) to look after them but for subsequent days you need to organise something else.
Therefore a hospital appointment would not fall into this category as it will have been well planned in advance, so you will need to a) take a holiday b) take unpaid leave c) try and influence time and date of hospital appointment to one that suits.

stolt

Thanks for the replies, i'll guess it easier for me to take them as holidays then as i cant afford to not have the money as i'm the only one that works. the clinics are easier to change but great ormand street isn't so and when we tried to change one before they were alittle funny over it saying that if you miss this appointment then there isn't another for several months, obviously I don't want to risk that when our youngest isnt too well. Also Great Ormand Street is a good 1.30hrs drive and then after the appointment its normally a case of waiting for blood tests etc and case study advisers to sit with her so its not normally that short of day up there. Our other two still have to go to school so we ask other mums to help collect them etc. Its fine i thought i'd ask before making a fool of myself with the boss I'll just continue with the way things are.

thanks for everyones replies, space rider I don't suppose you can remember what drug they wanted to put your daughter on? wasn't enbral by anychance?

longhotbath

Hi Stolt - hy husbands company require him to take holiday if it is medically related for our son - despite him being life limited and highest rates dla. We have found this really hard in the past as a trip to GOSH or Kings needs both of us. He has 6 hospital appts in January alone. I can do most on my own, but there are a few that I need emotional support for and he comes to those.

Talk to your employer - with parental leave for a sick child, you need to book it in advance, and take it in week long blocks, and it could be unpaid - but some companies are more generous than my DH's.
Could you use your hols for the hospital visits, and take the parental leave for a holiday - and save like mad/ebay like mad first?

Good luck with the treatment, and I hope that it works. I had jca when I was 10 - 12, and couldnt move my fingers for months. It gradually cleared up - I was incredibly lucky!!

Best wishes, LHB

feelinggood_2

If your child is disabled (that is, getting disability living allowance) you have the right to take up to 18 weeks' parental leave until their 18th birthday.

If your child has a disability, you can take time off in days instead of weeks, so you could use parental leave for regular hospital visits.

From:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Moneyandworkentitlements/WorkAndFamilies/Parentalleaveandflexibleworking/DG_10029416

johnwayne

feelinggood wrote: »

If your child is disabled (that is, getting disability living allowance) you have the right to take up to 18 weeks' parental leave until their 18th birthday.

If your child has a disability, you can take time off in days instead of weeks, so you could use parental leave for regular hospital visits.

From:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Moneyandworkentitlements/WorkAndFamilies/Parentalleaveandflexibleworking/DG_10029416

This is exactly what we did for our son's appointments (occupational therapist, consultants, physio, etc.) until hubbie got made redundant in July.

My husbands firm were not altogether happy about it but once hubbie took in the info they were ok with it.

sheeps68

I often have to take leave for my hospital appts up in London so would have thought as a parent it would be the same unless you can juggle your hours around.

apples1

Anything paid would be as a benefit and at the discretion of the company. You can have time off as already posted but it would all be unpaid (even the first day) unless the company were more generous.

If you can think of ANY flexible suggestion then I would ask your employer as a favour to look at supporting you. Making up some hours from home in the evenings, anything that means they could afford to help you without losing out too much financially. I take a pretty tough line on policies for time off sick etc with out staff but in a situation like this I would really help if I could. Perhaps go halves with you??

Good luck

stolt

thanks for all the replies, at the moment she isnt classed as disabled, however i cant see that being that way for very long. I;m about to apply for a badge for her and we really need to talk to someone about what is availible to her/us as i dont know thing about it all. At wone stage 18 months ago there was talk that she will have arthritis and she will have some ad days but generally will have a decent standard of living! how i wish that could be the case now. (cant wait for this year to go)


longhotbath - good to hear yours cleared up, i'm always optimistic but at the age of 2 she had 15 different joints affected and she was one of the worse GOSH have seen for her age. As i say she has been quite good over christmas and its very had for my wife, thats part of the problem, i cant expect my wife to take her GOSH on her own and deal with it up there on her own. Its very stressful for her and i want to do my bit for her and my daughter (a bit of support and company etc)
my work do appreciate whats going on however as much as i talk about it at work unless you live it or have someone close to you that suffers from something like this i dnt think you really can understand how it affects your whole life. They have helped it just seems i'm always asking for time off at the moment for hospital visits and i know my eldest (7) said last year why couldnt we go away on holiday or for day trips like her friends (they have this show and tell thing at school) and then she puts a massive guilt trip on me. I cant win lol.

shame that my job isnt really geared towards working at home as that would be ideal for me, neiher is time the whole office opens at set times and there is no changing that.