To use an emergency GP appointment to get a sick note?

[tvpolte]

Just that...

[AragornsManlyStubble]

Depends what for?

[tvpolte]

I know I'll get a sick note, but I'm just wondering if it's acceptable to use an emergency appointment to get one

[MrsJayy]

Bit vague saying just that but if you have a Gp appointment why not as for a sick line in assuming you are ill so need it

[Heychickadee]

You can self-certificate for 5 day or something like that, could you not use that time to go to your regular GP to get a sick note? I don't know if out of hours GPs can do that.

[Lucked]

Yes because you don't need medical attention. Consider it only if you have been ill over 7 days, anything less and they will refuse as you have to self certify. The odd GP might agree to do it at less than days but would charge.

[MrsJayy]

Did you just phone up ask for an appointment then got 1 ?

[MrsJayy]

Is it out of hours Gp?

[tvpolte]

I have been off of work for a week already, I'll need a doctors note for my next shift. Closest GP appointment is 2 weeks.

[PenelopeParmesan]

If you have a new medical emergency that needs seeing before tomorrow , and will need more than 7 days off then you could ask. But you'd be expected to self cert for the first 7 days, in which case you're own gp can do it

[tvpolte]

Emergency GP appointment is with my own GP? It's just where you get the appointment that day

[bloodynoris]

Do you mean an emergency appointment with your own gp or with an out of hours gp?

[PenelopeParmesan]

Because you need to be seen, or because you want to renew a fit note? Needing a note is not a medical emergency

[tvpolte]

No, because I need to get a sick note.

If I can't use an emergency appointment, what do I do? As I need one for my next shift.

[bloodynoris]

Sorry cross posts. No I don't think you are being unreasonable. If your still ill after bein off for 7 days they is clearly something wrong with you which your gp will need to see you for again.

[backwardpossom]

Can you get one over the phone?

[Stuffedshirt]

It's not an emergency is it? It's not right to take an emergency appointment that someone else might need urgently. Speak to the receptionist, if you definitely need a certificate the doctor might speak to you on the 'phone and issue one. You can self-certificate for a week as well.


They're now called fit notes, by the way.

A fit note must be signed by a doctor but you don't always need to see your GP in person to get one.

It depends on: why you're off work sick

Whether your GP needs to assess you face-to-face

if you've been in hospital

[Friendofsadgirl]

I think if you are still unwell after a week, then a same day appointment with your practice is acceptable. Surely you need treatment anyway?

[harderandharder2breathe]

Yanbu, although your OP is missing important info like the fact that you already self certified for a week.

You need a fit note and even if you'd made an appointment when you were first off sick it wouldn't be for another week yet so no good.

[CantChoose]

Explain to the receptionist what you need and see what they suggest. At my practice we have 'book in the day' appointments that would be appropriate for this and 'emergency' ones which wouldn't.

[MrsJayy]

It is a complete pain trying to get an ordinary appointment a week ahead is normal here I think if they gave you the appointment then it is appropriate to get your sick note if someone was seriously ill they would get an appointment too you haven't nicked a slot you are not better after your self cert so need to be seen again.

[SummitLove]

Yeah, go book on the day, not emergency.

Also, I think your GP may be pissed off you didn't visit them at the end of the self certification period rather than waiting until the day of the shift. Kind of puts them in a difficult position. I would definitely say something along the lines of "sorry was hoping I would be better" very apologetically.

[NormaSmuff]

cant you just ring and ask for one and then they can offer you an appointment, if necessary, they can do it retrospectively

[Pineappletastic]

Depends on the GP.

At my GP it's basically 'emergency' appointments only anyway. My baby had something where we had to 'come back in four weeks to check on it', and I couldn't make an advance appointment, I had to phone on the day, at 08:15, and sit on hold for forty minutes to get an appointment for the day. I'm not sure how this is efficient at all, seems like a massive waste of everyones time to me.

I also had a bizarre roundabout where my midwife said I needed to see my GP, probably for anti-bs, but I had to phone for an 'emergency' app, then get called back by triage, then be given an appointment to go in and see the GP.

[ilovesooty]

My GP asks patients not to use emergency appointments for sick notes.

[confessionsofalazyperson]

Can you not ask for a telephone consultation?