Backdated fit note from GP?

LunaLovegood

Hi all,

Looking for some advice. I have been off sick for 2 days- various issues (IBS, migraines, insomnia, psoriasis, sickness- all I believe linked to high levels of stress in work)..I really need to speak to my GP about it all, but cannot get an appointment until 16th June :eek:

I can only self cert until next week at which point my employers will want a fit note if I don't return. I explained this to the receptionist & she said my employers have to accept back dated fit notes because of 'the way things are' (in the NHS) but how does she know if the Dr will actually say I was unfit for work? I also don't know how pleased my employers will be with having to wait for it- and then what if the Dr says in their opinion I was fit to work!? (I can't see this happening in the state I am in but even so)

Does anyone know if it's true employers have to accept back dated notes? I can't find anything online.

LilElvis

Surely your surgery has emergency appointments? Get yourself one of those to get your note and some medication if required then attend in June for further treatment/ extension of note.

LunaLovegood

She never mentioned anything about an emergency appointment- what do I say to request one of those?

She never asked what was wrong or anything. I'm in pretty serious pain with my stomach- should I mention that?

sangie595

I can't believe that a patient needs to wait three weeks for an appointment with a doctor for a current medical problem. Are you sure that she wasn't confusing what you asked for with scheduled appointments? At surgeries here we have both. You phone up in the morning if you need an urgent appointment that day. If it is something non-urgent you can book an appointment in advance. So I have one, for example, next Wednesday, which I booked online as non-urgent. Needing a fit note would be classed as urgent - if you are unfit for work then you should be seeing a doctor after a week, because you need medical advice.

LilElvis

Speak to the surgery and ask. Mine have emergency appointments each weekday morning and 3 afternoons a week - you either ring at 8 or go online at that time to book them. Surely if you have diagnosed, ongoing conditions such as IBS and psoriasis you must attend your surgery with some regularity?

LunaLovegood

Nope. I've been going to this dr all my life and have never ever been able to get a same day appointment.

The best she could offer was for me to ring everyday next week in the hope of a cancellation.

LunaLovegood

My drs dont have anything online lol. You just phone them. I dont go to them anymore about the psoriasis as they just keep prescribing steroid creams which are rubbish.

They have never prescribed anything for IBS. I only go in to get my pill prescription every 3-6months and they check my blood pressure. I know to book a couple of weeks ahead for that though because they are always so busy. But I thought it would be different if you were off work sick and needed a line.

LilElvis

Call the surgery and ask about emergency appointments. Request a repeat prescription for steroid cream if your psoriasis is flaring up.

Your other posts indicate that you work in banking so presumably you can easily access your staff handbook to look at the sickness reporting procedure or contact the, doubtlessly large, HR department for guidance.

LunaLovegood

I do work in banking but only for this particular bank for a year & havent been off before. Handbook just states self cert for 7 days then dr note required. Nothing specific about a backdated note.

I've already stated in a previous post that I will not use steroid creams anymore. They cause more damage than good. I just need to speak to the dr about the IBS as I cannot cope with the pain & distress of that anymore & the lack of sleep/migraines . I will ask for an emergency appointment. Failing getting one that way then I will speak to HR to explain the situation. Thanks for the advice.

agrinnall

I would be seriously considering a change of medical practice. It can be difficult to get an appointment in many places, but to have no access to treatment in the short term seems ridiculous (and to be honest I'm not sure that you're right, perhaps you have misunderstood the process). If you don't want to move then perhaps going in person to the practice at the start of their day would work.

LunaLovegood

I can promise you I haven't misunderstood- I've been going there for 28 years. This is just what they're like. It's always been at least 2 weeks for an appointment. I did think for something like this there would be an exception but she said there wasn't & that's why they backdate sick notes. I guess the only option now would be asking for an 'emergency' appointment.
It's a very old practice too. Been open almost 50 years I think and never even so much as had a fresh lick of paint. They don't even like prescribing the pill because its against their religion (Catholic GP). They have no information online or anything like that. I have been thinking of changing for a while now- a few years ago I went in after a positive pregnancy test & they just gave me a script for folic acid. No midwife referal, no advice on what to do next. Whole thing was a shambles. Unfortunately that pregnancy did not last but it has been in the back of my mind that I would prefer a more efficient experience next time.