To note provide a sick note?

[Darknessinthevalley]

This morning, on the way to work, I fell off the train and sprained my ankle really badly. I asked my head teacher if I would be allowed to leave at three in order to attend a minor injuries clinic, as within two hours the swelling still hadn't gone down.
He insisted I leave right away and get it checked, and it turns out that I've done some fairly serious damage to my ligaments. The doctor suggested I have a few days off, but I have said to my head teacher that I only want a day, I've done this before and as long as I can sit I'll be fine.
He Okayed this verbally and confirmed that I'd be back in work Thursday.
His secretary has just called me again to ask if the doctor said to have a day off, and I said that he advised to use my best judgement but to stay off it as much as possible for the first week. I confirmed again that I didn't think to get a doctors note as I thought you could self certify for a week. She said that she'd told him that but he asked again.
I'm now feeling very anxious, have I done something wrong? Do I really need a sick note for an injured ankle for one day? I'm honestly on the brink of tears over this, I'm autistic and struggle at the best of times.

[PeiPeiPing]

No you would not need a sick note for one day.

Do you have an HR department or a union? Anyone you can talk to about it (and who could have a word with your boss on your behalf...)

[Darknessinthevalley]

We do have a HR department yes, and I'm part of the teacher's union. Maybe I'll send HR an email confirming that I don't need one.

[kaytee87]

You can self certify up to a week and most doctors probably wouldn’t provide one for less days than that.

[Aridane]

Is your head teacher actually concerned that you're not taking the full time off recommended by your doctor and so wanting a sick / fit note to see what you are safely capable of doing work wise?

[Darknessinthevalley]

Aridane oh possibly, that could explain it as he's usually pretty lovely! It just kind of surprised me, but I honestly do not want or need the week off.

[WiseUpJanetWeiss]

You don’t need and won’t get a sick note for one day.

Your head is probably a bit surprised you’ve not been advised to rest for longer, and is just checking you’re not going against medical advice. Which you are a bit. You should probably stay at home with your leg elevated til Monday. Unless Ofsted are coming on Monday...!

[Darknessinthevalley]

Wise good to know I probably won't get one, he's Irish so I don't know whether he's used to a different system?
I really, really don't need a week. I'll get bored and I'm only a PGCE, so I spend a lot of time seated anyways.

[RainbowInACloud]

Hi, I'm a GP. Yes you def can't get a MED3 for the first week. You can get a private note but usually a £25 charge.
Hope you feel better soon!

[Darknessinthevalley]

Thanks Rainbow, good to know I wouldn't actually get one for sure :) must just be that he's worried then, and even if he is annoyed, it's good to know that he's got no recourse, we have a HR department so that should help.

[WellLetsSayHesSquare]

You definitely self cert for the first 5 working days at least. I had an issue with my previous workplace when my son was in icu. I called and explained I would be off for a while and snooty hr said if it was more than a week I would need a sick note.

Obviously I wasn't sick so didn't get one and she hounded me for it via email (which i just ignored as I was in the hospital) and eventually said it was a legal requirement to have one.

I finally managed to convince her that no one would give me a sick note if I wasn't sick and the leave would just have to be unpaid. She literally just shook her head at me and tutted and said that that meant she had to record it differently and didn't I realise how much of a pain that was!

Sorry for the rant. Feel better

[MountainDweller]

I know it’s not what you asked but staying off and resting is a good idea.

I had a bad ankle sprain that I didn’t rest because I ‘had’ to be at work. It didn’t end well.

[LIZS]

It is quite likely that your injury will feel worse before it gets better as the bruising and swelling comes out. Take the rest of the week to avoid unnecessarily aggravating it. Have learnt the hard way that trying to carry on with sprains is not a good idea.