cant go in to work but cant get a GP appt until next week

[newjobtime17]

Hello. HR advice needed please.

I am due in to work today at 1pm (I had pre-booked the morning off - so just doing half a day today)

I can't go due to anxiety which has been building up for weeks and appears to have peaked. I havent slept for most of the night.

The problem is that I cant get a GP appointment until next week. I have never self-certified myself off work and not sure if I can self-certify stating anxiety. Any suggestions?

* I can phone GP every day for an emergency appointment but I think there are only a few and it is first come first served *

[ApplesTheHare]

Yes, you can self-cert for up to one week, just go to your GP as soon as you can. How's your relationship with your boss?
Sorry you're experiencing this, anxiety is horrible.

[IrritatedUser1960]

yes you can I did it once,

[DontFuckingSayIt]

A doctors note can be back-dated, especially if the doctor is already aware of the problem. Can you get a telephone appointment?

[newjobtime17]

Thanks for such a fast response ApplesTheHare. Much appreciated.

I think I have a decent working relationship with my manager. She can be indiscreet which is a worry as she has shared confidential medical information about other team members with rest of the team and I worry about that. However, with regards to me speaking to her today I cant imagine there would be any issues. I was just worried as I have never been off work before, and never self-certified, and wondered if a self diagnosis of anxiety might be questioned. I will phone in and keep phoning the GP every day.

Thanks

[Floralnomad]

You are too ill to work , hence you are off sick , hence you self certify whatever is wrong with you . Could you get a phone consultation with the GP ?

[newjobtime17]

thanks for all messages. They have helped :)

The GP I have seen a few times recently is on leave this week anyway. I will phone receptionist and see about phone consultation otherwise I will just keep trying and self-certify if necessary.

Thank you.

[Fletcherl]

Have you thought about using the emergency appointment. You deserve medical treatment if you are unwell too.

[OoohSmooch]

I work in HR....All you will be doing right now will be calling in sick for today, just today and possibly tomorrow. I say this as your company policy will most likely state you need to call in sick each day without a medical certificate. You do not need a medical certificate until the 8th day (including any non working days). Your manager has a right to ask you questions about how you are and being off work so be prepared for this also.

Try and get an emergency appointment though as get the certificate, once your manager has this then you would not need to call in each day for the duration of the certificate (assuming you'll get signed off for around 1-2 weeks). Your manager/HR may request a catch up call in the middle of that time to see how you are getting on also.

Best of luck and one step at a time.

[WicksEnd]

You don't get a med cert (fit note as they're called now) from the GP until you've self certed for 7 days anyway.
So your employer won't need one.
So at this stage, keep trying for an appointment as you need it for you, but don't worry about the med cert.
We all 'self diagnose' I guess, when calling in, but it's just the nature of the illness the employer wants.

[newjobtime17]

Thanks for all the messages. I dont know why I got so worried. I managed to get an appointment with the doctor today and have been signed off.

manager was good too. Feeling better about things.
Thanks

[ApplesTheHare]

Great news OP, I'm very happy to hear it hasn't been too stressful getting sorted with work. Well done for speaking to your manager and seeing the doctor, neither are easy when you're feeling bad. Hope your time off helps