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General health

How long can a GP give a sick/fit note for?

9 replies

imasurvivor02 · 06/07/2020 18:28

Does anyone know the maximum time a GP can give a sick/fit note for at a time?

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InsideOutChickenParm · 07/07/2020 03:47

There's no set time. It depends on your condition. They have to be confident that your condition you'll be sick for that amount of time.

So if you had a sprained ankle, your sick note would be short because you should recover in a few weeks. A long term condition may get a sick note of several months if there's genuinely no hope of recovery before then.

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iffymiffy · 07/07/2020 03:55

You can always get it extended if needed.

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Monty27 · 07/07/2020 03:58

For as long as you are medically deemed unfit to work.

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ElizabethMainwaring · 07/07/2020 04:03

It's definitely two months at a time.
I've been long term off sick since March (just before lock down).
I have to contact the GP just before the current one runs out and they issue a new one. (At the moment I have one that states I can work from home).
GPs and the surgery manager have told me that the maximum issue time is two months. They also cannot issue one until the current one runs out. Its a computerized system.

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Doyouwantanothercuppa · 07/07/2020 04:26

Elizabeth that must be specific to your surgery.
If the Fit Note is written out for a benefit claim, it will only be accepted for a max 13 weeks. After which point you should have had a DWP medical assessment. No further Fit Notes are needed after the assessment.

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ElizabethMainwaring · 07/07/2020 04:40

Oh. I was 'off sick' for two months, and I've now had two more 'fit notes' saying that I can work 'with reasonable adjustments' ie from home.
I can't see that surgeries would have their own rules though.
It was nothing to do with the DWP btw.

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Pixxie7 · 07/07/2020 05:07

Max is 13 weeks at a time as pp said.

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Tomanyhandbags · 07/07/2020 05:34

My husband has 12 month fitness to work certificates to give to his employer, long term disability no prospect of returning to work.

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imasurvivor02 · 07/07/2020 08:21

I've been off since February and have requested 6 weeks at a time. I put another request in for 8 weeks as I have an appointment with my consultant in 8 weeks time and hopefully I will feel well enough to be back in work after it, but my GP only signed me off for 6 weeks so just wondered if there was a limit.

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