Time Off for Antenatal Appointments: Complete Guide
Juggling antenatal care around a job can feel stressful, especially if you're worried about how your employer will react. The good news is that UK law gives pregnant employees clear, protected rights to attend appointments — you don't need to use holiday or make up the hours.
Your Legal Rights
Under UK employment law, pregnant employees have the right to paid time off to attend antenatal care, from your very first day in a job — there's no minimum length of service required.
- What counts as antenatal care: the booking appointment, all midwife and GP checks, ultrasound scans, antenatal classes recommended by your midwife or doctor, and appointments with other specialists your care team refers you to.
- Pay: you must be paid your normal rate for the time you're away, including reasonable travel time to and from the appointment.
- Proof: for your first appointment, your employer cannot usually ask for evidence. For later appointments, they can ask to see your appointment card or a letter confirming the date and time, so it's worth keeping these.
- Notice: there's no strict legal notice period, but giving your manager as much warning as you can helps them plan cover and avoids last-minute friction.
- Protection: refusing you reasonable time off for antenatal care, or treating you unfairly because you've taken it, can amount to pregnancy discrimination.
Telling Your Employer and Planning Ahead
You don't have to disclose your pregnancy to request time off, but in practice most people tell their manager once they've had their booking appointment, since that's when the recurring schedule of scans and checks begins.
- Share your appointment schedule as early as you're comfortable, so your manager can plan around it.
- Ask about your workplace's process — some employers want appointments logged with HR, others just need a quick heads-up to your line manager.
- If appointments regularly fall mid-shift, discuss whether you can start later, finish earlier, or make up time flexibly on those days, rather than losing pay.
- Keep a simple record of dates, times, and who you told, in case any dispute arises later.
What About Your Partner?
Partners (including husbands, wives, civil partners, and same-sex partners) have a separate right to unpaid time off to attend up to two antenatal appointments, each capped at six and a half hours including travel. This applies from day one of their employment too, though because it's unpaid, some employers choose to pay it anyway as a goodwill gesture — it's always worth asking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get paid time off for every antenatal appointment?
Yes. UK law entitles pregnant employees to paid time off for all antenatal appointments recommended by a doctor, midwife, or health visitor — including scans, blood tests, and antenatal classes. You should be paid your normal wage, including reasonable travel time, and this right applies from your first day in a new job.
Does my employer have to approve every request?
Your employer cannot unreasonably refuse antenatal time off, and after your first appointment they can ask for reasonable evidence such as an appointment card. If you feel a request has been refused or you've been treated poorly because of it, this may be pregnancy discrimination, and it's worth speaking to ACAS or your union for advice.
Can my partner take time off for scans too?
Yes — partners are entitled to unpaid time off to attend up to two antenatal appointments, up to six and a half hours each including travel time. This right starts from day one of their job, though some employers do pay for this time even though it isn't legally required.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
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