Sick Note Confusion

TSx

I'm a bit confused by the fit note system and what I should be doing in my situation.

I have was off work all last week (monday-friday) self certified. On the Wednesday, I saw the doctor at the local walk in centre (as GP didn't have appointments till this week) who said it was flu/pneumonia and gave me a 7 day course of antibiotics along with telling me to get plenty of rest/stay hydrated.

Whilst some of my flu symptoms have gone, I'm still very breathless most of the time and after doing simple tasks like getting dressed, or having a long conversation find myself having to spend the next few minutes trying to get my breath back. Nothing seems to have changed in this regard since being given the antibiotics on Wednesday. I definitely don't feel well enough to be back at work yet.

I didn't make a further GP appointment as I didn't anticipate being off more than a week, but I'm unlikely to be feeling much better on Monday. I'm going to go back to the walk in centre tomorrow as the medication doesn't seem to be working but they can't issue a fit note.

What will happen if my GP won't see my on Monday? I can't self certify any more than 7 days and from what I've read, GPs generally won't backdate fit notes - particularly as they haven't seen me.

Any advice? Thanks

Kez1983

Does your GP not do same day "emergency" or sit and wait appointments that you can organise tomorrow?


A GP can backdate a fit note, but doesn't have to.


If you can't sort an appointment then call your employer for their advice and ask what procedure you should follow.

DomRavioli

Call your GP tomorrow - you don't know until you call, just tell them you need a same day appointment. If they say "is it an emergency", just tell them yes.

And OP, you wouldn't get antibiotics for the flu, but if you potentially have community acquired pneumonia you need to be seen ASAP as there has been no improvement. Go to the walk in centre today if you can.

TELLIT01

DomRavioli wrote: »

And OP, you wouldn't get antibiotics for the flu,

There's a difference between shouldn't and wouldn't! Too many GPs hand out antibiotics like sweets just because it's the quickest and easiest way to get patients back out the door again.

theoretica

If all you need from the surgery is a sick note why not explain that to the receptionist and what do they suggest? It can't be a rare problem.

Missme

Bacterial, pneumonia can be a complication of flu and would be treatable with antibiotics.


That being said, as the OP says the drugs aren't working, the pneumonia may be viral.