I must have been lucky where I worked. They were not too fussed about appointments, as long as the work was done. I used to try and schedule either around lunch, so my lunch break absorbed some of the time or at the end of the day, so I would just leave work and go home after the appointment. If I did that, I would try to come in earlier and have a shorter lunch break that day.

I think they should allow you to either make up the time, or take it from your sick leave.