Today, the 4th February 2019, is World Cancer Day. However, as we mark the occasion, it remains the case that in the UK there is no automatic right to time off work for routine medical appointments. And where there is no automatic right, then many employees will simply not see their doctor about concerns until it is too late. Undoubtedly, it is the case that this ludicrous situation is a major contributory factor in the level of avoidable deaths from cancer each year on account of the fact that the diagnoses came too late.
Catching Cancer Early
There have been many advances in the effective treatment of cancer in recent times, but it remains the case that if cancer is caught early before it has had a chance to spread, then your chances of surviving 5 years and longer are considerably higher. Once the cancer has spread to other areas of the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system, then the treatment options start to diminish and are less effective.
The key to catching cancer early is to visit your GP the moment that you start to have worries/symptoms that cause you concern. However, finding time to visit your GP for routine medical appointments if you are working full time can be extremely difficult. Many GP practices are closed at the weekend, and it is often impossible to see a GP during the week without taking time off work
No Automatic Right To Time Off Work For Routine Medical Appointments
Given that the best chance of beating cancer is to catch it early before it has spread, and that the key to catching it early is to visit your GP when you first start to have worries/symptoms that should be checked out, then it is an absolute disgrace that there is no automatic right to time off work for routine medical appointments. With no automatic right, employees not wishing to upset an employer may be tempted to ignore worries that they may have in terms of cancer, try to convince themselves that it is related to something other than cancer, and take a chance and ignore it. By the time the cancer is finally diagnosed at a later stage, it can and sadly often is the case that it is too late.
Back in 2014, Cancer Research UK found that 46% of those with cancer were diagnosed only at an advanced stage (stage 3 or 4). The charity stated: "Diagnosing cancer at its earliest stages, before it has had a chance to spread to other parts of the body, can have a huge effect on survival. Once a cancer has spread, it is often harder to treat successfully, meaning that a person's chances of surviving are much lower." Many of those diagnosed at a late stage, will have had symptoms and suspicions at a much earlier stage, and will have been put off from doing anything about it due to worries about asking an employer for time off work for a routine medical appointment to be checked out by their GP. Tragically, this will have cost many people their lives.
Very few employers provide a contractual right to time off work for routine medical appointments as part of their sickness and absence policy.
