Scheduling Specialist/Dr Appointments?

[Rachael]

Don't get me started! My GP finishes at 4pm so I can never see him since he doesn't start until 8.30am either.

I always have to go to the walk-in at the weekend or book a day off. I will not take day care children on personal appointments. For one thing, I do not want 6 children with ears wiggling as I speak to my doctor. We all know what tales we hear about home but if I wanted all my clients knowing all my business, I'd e-mail them.

Plus, IMO, I am being paid to care for children. Not run personal errands.

I have recently had to take three days off for specialist appointments and now I've just booked off a date in December where he wants to see me.

What do your contracts say about appointments?
Do you give a certain amount of notice of closing?
Do you have a max number of days unavailable a year?
Did you detail if personal days were paid or not?
Does your contact state you might arrange cover and parents are given enough notice for them to decide if their child is attended on that date?

I know I say this a lot but much of what your options are, will come down to what your contract states about your availability.

I know my day care parents wouldn't be happy if I opened late and/or closed early. That would mean them needing to take at least a part day off so my own client base would prefer me to close and take it as a personal day if their leave is being affected anyway.