Fit note question

[TeslaGirls]

I have been asked by my employer to obtain either a fit note or letter from my GP stating I am ready to return to work following a flare up of a long term illness. My employer knows what that illness is.

However. I have since been diagnosed with an additional issue that doesn't impact on my employment at all. If I request a fit note (with a probable phased return request), does the GP have to state all diagnosis, or just the relevant one? Or do they have to state any actual diagnosis - could it not state "flare up of long term illness"?

My other option is a letter from my GP simply stating I am capable of returning to my employment. My employer has stated that that would be sufficient as they know I am reluctant to provide personal details - small organisation with no HR but rather volunteers who don't seem to have any notion of confidentiality. My issue with this method, although preferable in terms of not stating my illness, is I'll have to wait 2-3 weeks for the letter to be ready, and I'm itching to get back to work! A fit note I can get the same day and start putting the phased return in to action.

Does anyone have any experience/advice?

It’s just the relevant issue. For example, I have multiple chronic issues (including migraines, IBS, endometriosis) but I was off with a neck problem and all my fit note said was ‘Neck pain’. Do you have an occupational health department? Might be worth getting to see them about a phased return as GPs can suggest it but employers don’t have to honour the recommendation unfortunately.

You don't actually need a fit note to be signed back as fit for work anymore, just one covering an absence longer than a week. Once the line is up, it's up to you to either get another or go back to work.

In terms of what's on the note, you can ask your GP just to keep it to the relevant illness. They won't normally want to disclose anything they don't need to, so unless the other illness is relating to this or will have an impact on your ability to work etc, it's unlikely to go on the note.