Fit note without seeing a GP?

HurdyGurdy

I went home from work unwell on 11th December. I know I can self certify for the first seven days, but I am still not well, so I know I will need a fit note for the days after the first seven days.

I had booked annual leave on 24th, 27th and 28th December.

I haven't been to the GP, because well, "it's a virus" and all they will tell me is to stay home, keep warm, drink plenty of fluids and take paracetamol. And I've done all that. In any case, I don't think I'd have had the energy to even get to the surgery.

I'm still not feeling well, so I am going to see if I can get a GP appointment tomorrow, but can a GP issue a retrospective note to cover me from 18th to 23rd December, before my annual leave started?

Les79

Fairly unusual for a "virus" to last longer than 2 weeks, and certainly not something you should be self-diagnosing/treating.


I don't know about having a fit note applied retrospectively (speak to your doctor and/or wait for more advice on here), but I do know about having your paperwork in order when you're off sick. So quite why you didn't either re-self-cert (if that is possible) or seek a doctor's fit note on the 18th Dec is beyond me... (GPs were open all the way up until Xmas eve I believe)


Also, you state that "I'm still not feeling well" which could potentially be grounds for CANCELLING your booked annual leave days (so you'd instead get SSP or company sick pay).


I think there's a fairly good possibility that you have just taken a 2 week Christmas holiday on the sick. Wouldn't knock you if you have like, but that does spring to mind...

LilElvis

No, a fit note cannot be backdated unless there has been an earlier assessment by the GP or another medical professional. You are going to be reliant on your employer's goodwill or take it as holiday/ unpaid leave.

Ozzuk

You could be in a spot of bother...why didn't you see the doc 18th onwards? Your company could see this as an unauthorised absence.

nicechap

HurdyGurdy wrote: »

I went home from work unwell on 11th December. I know I can self certify for the first seven days, but I am still not well, so I know I will need a fit note for the days after the first seven days.

I had booked annual leave on 24th, 27th and 28th December.

I haven't been to the GP, because well, "it's a virus" and all they will tell me is to stay home, keep warm, drink plenty of fluids and take paracetamol. And I've done all that. In any case, I don't think I'd have had the energy to even get to the surgery.

I'm still not feeling well, so I am going to see if I can get a GP appointment tomorrow, but can a GP issue a retrospective note to cover me from 18th to 23rd December, before my annual leave started?

How did you let your employer know you were sick on 18 Dec when your self certificate ran out?

Very unlikely the GP will back date it, there are some grounds for doing so but they don’t appear to apply to you.

nicechap

Les79 wrote: »

Fairly unusual for a "virus" to last longer than 2 weeks, and certainly not something you should be self-diagnosing/treating.


I don't know about having a fit note applied retrospectively (speak to your doctor and/or wait for more advice on here), but I do know about having your paperwork in order when you're off sick. So quite why you didn't either re-self-cert (if that is possible) or seek a doctor's fit note on the 18th Dec is beyond me... (GPs were open all the way up until Xmas eve I believe)


Also, you state that "I'm still not feeling well" which could potentially be grounds for CANCELLING your booked annual leave days (so you'd instead get SSP or company sick pay).


I think there's a fairly good possibility that you have just taken a 2 week Christmas holiday on the sick. Wouldn't knock you if you have like, but that does spring to mind...

Lots of viruses last longer than 2 weeks. Influenza, HIV, glandular fever etc etc.

SandraX

Dear OP

See your GP first and hope you get better soon.

GP will never backdate a note but if you tried to contact them and could not get an ppt, he/she may add a note.

Did you ring your work place?

I know, it's more stressful when you are unwell and I hope it all works ot for you.

Btw, is there someone you can trust at work a manager/senior you can talk to?

ATB

TELLIT01

No GP will issue a 'sick note' for a period before the date the appointment was requested. You should have contacted your surgery on the 18th but will now probably have to take the time since then as unpaid absence.

HurdyGurdy

Thank you for your replies. I didn't think the GP would be able to backdate it so I'm not surprised (don't know for certain, as - unsurprisingly - I couldn't get an appointment today)

We have a department Whatsapp group chat that we use to inform everyone if we're going to be running late, or are ill, etc. so I kept in touch using that. Plus my manager came round to the house to give me my secret santa gift (I'd missed our team's Christmas outing) and could see how unwell I was.

I am back in on Monday, so will have a chat with the team leader, if she's in. If I have to take it as unpaid, then so be it.

Les79 - if I could be bothered, I'd be offended by your suggestion that I'd taken a two week holiday but claimed to be sick. But I don't know you, and your views don't affect me, so I won't. But you are so completely wrong.

Les79

HurdyGurdy wrote: »

Les79 - if I could be bothered, I'd be offended by your suggestion that I'd taken a two week holiday but claimed to be sick. But I don't know you, and your views don't affect me, so I won't. But you are so completely wrong.

Well, you clearly have been offended and this part of your post gets that message across... I really wish people would be less sensitive at times!


It wasn't personal. It was an observation from a neutral third party who isn't privy to all of the facts. See how I used the words "fairly good possibility" in my post to absolve me if it transpired that I was completely wrong? Because, after all, "fairly good possibility" does not mean "certain".



Anyway, good luck with getting this resolved.

Energize

My GP has given me backdated sick notes in the past in order to provide a continuous period of sickness for the job centre. To all the people asking why the OP hasn't been to the GP, the typical waiting time for an appointment is 4 weeks at many practices.