Annual leave

Why do some people have no consideration?

I am a band 5 ED staff nurse in one of the busiest hospital in greater London. We have 40-ish patients in corridor care with staggering 12-16hr wait(16hrs is the longest i have seen).

Staff are burned out(as usual) and the only legit break that i can get is to have annual leave. I am an international qualified nurse and my home country is atleast 19hrs travel time from UK. I requested annual leave this coming march 2025 last august 2024. My request was denied as the matron said that i should book near the time. Also she doesnt approve requests more than 3weeks and with days off before and after(she said its unfair to get extended leave by using days off).

I know its manager's descretion about the approval of leave. But cant they have some consideration? Tickets are very expensive near the flight date and its hurting to spend £1000 for a airplane ticket thinking youll be back in 2 weeks.

I miss my family and my parents are not getting any younger. Its just sad.

Any advice how to deal with this?