When to go back to work - fit notes

[SunnyAgain]

I had an injury 6 weeks ago today, on 14th May. I was issued a fit note on 16th May saying I needed to be off work for 6 weeks. My line manager said I should then return 6 weeks from that date which is Tuesday. I had a physio appointment last Thursday 22nd June and my physio has written me a new fit note saying I may return to work with some provisos. As this new fit note is dated 22/6 does it cancel out the original one and should I have returned to work immediately, or realistically should I go in tomorrow rather than Tuesday?
Thank you for any advice!

Yes your new fit note over rides it

Thank you. So in theory I should have gone back to work on the day the new note was issued (Thursday)? As I didn’t, could I just take those days as sick leave?

Depends on the provisos - if they'd met them then yeah you were OK to work.

I have a sling, which I was told I’d need for 6 weeks. Work didn’t want me in during that time. As I have now hit the 6 week mark, the new fit note says I can take the sling off for periods, but no heavy lifting and I may need amended hours if tired/sore. I’m awaiting a consultant appointment which was due on Tues but has now been cancelled and rearranged for the following week, and have been advised not to ditch the sling completely until then.

The fit note says I may be fit to work taking into account amended duties/hours, and that my sling is due to come off today but notes I am not being reviewed by the consultant until 4/7 so I may need to remain in the sling for periods of time.

So maybe as until today I was in the sling, I can say I could not have been in work until this point. I will let work know I will return tomorrow anyway!