Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Not to even try and get "medical evidence"

64 replies

Bestseller · 14/12/2018 10:47

Ds2 generally has excellent attendance, often 100%, but has been off sick since last Friday. He's been really quite poorly and slept for most of it but is on the mend now. Still not well but loads better, I expect him to be back on Monday.

I've had a text saying as it's been a week I must provide medical evidence.

He's had flu or some other virus, a GP appointment would have been ridiculous,(even if I could get one) he just needed to sleep it off and it would have done neither him or the other patients any good to have him sat in a doctor's waiting room.

Aibu to tell school it is an unreasonable request? If I took him to docs now, would they even give any "evidence"? He's getting better, what a waste of NHS resources, just to provide the school with proof for a child whose attendance is otherwise excellent.

Plus, they didn't even ask how he is?!

OP posts:
CharlotteFlax · 14/12/2018 10:49

Even at work you'd self certify for seven days, no sick note required. Tell school why you're not going to provide medical evidence in a clearly worded email or letter.

Original poster
Bestseller · 14/12/2018 10:57

Yes, he's had eight days though. I'm sure they're following a correct process but the nhs isn't set up to accomodate it.

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 14/12/2018 10:58

You’re being unreasonable here.

PurpleDaisies · 14/12/2018 10:59

Sorry, pressed post by accident.

If you’d been off for over a week, work would require a doctor’s note.

MatildaTheCat · 14/12/2018 10:59

So what will they do if you just don’t provide the evidence? I completely agree it’s a total waste of nhs resources at a time when none are available for waste.

Original poster
Bestseller · 14/12/2018 11:01

Yes but I'd also be asking them to pay me Purple.

OP posts:
Auntiepatricia · 14/12/2018 11:01

It’s very unusual to be off 8 days but not to have needed any medical attention. So you have an unusual situation. Just call and tell them your situation. But it really does look like you’ve been on holidays so maybe think of how you can prove you haven’t just in case that’s the issue.

Ellisandra · 14/12/2018 11:03

I would write a polite letter explaining his illness and that it didn’t require a GP and that it would be a waste of resources to make an appointment (would you have to pay for a GP note?!) especially at this time of year. “Therefore, please accept this letter as self certification of illness”. So you’re not refusing to provide anything, you’re being nice and helpful giving them something.
By the time they’ve opened it and worked out what to do (last week of term!) they’ll probably give up.

Madmozzie · 14/12/2018 11:04

Yeah, it's a waste of time, but that's what is required. I can't remember when or why schools started requiring this, but I vaguely remember it was a top down decision from local authorities or similar? What happens if you don't? I assume you get collared for unauthorized absence?

Used to drive me mad when DS would get a heat rash or rash with a cold, and had to get the OK from a gp before nursery would have him in.

Original poster
Bestseller · 14/12/2018 11:06

Ha, I'd like to see them accuse me of that. DH and I have been juggling work and asking for help from GPs. Im exhausted, wish I had been on holiday but I've never so much as taken them out of school for a long weekend. Anyway, I can prove I've been in to work most days and DH has been in the other days.

OP posts:
HappyPunky · 14/12/2018 11:06

Can you email your gp? There should be a contact email on the website. If you explain that the school have requested a Dr note maybe they can email something back.

It won't be secure from your email address to theirs so just give name and post code or name and date of birth and tell them he has had a virus. They might ring or send something direct to school or print something for you to collect.

I've not done exactly this but have done it to avoid appointments and staying on hold.

Northernmum100 · 14/12/2018 11:09

It does seem it would be a waste of NHS resources. Ask to see the school policy regarding sickness absence and see if it mentions the need for a GP certificate.
If it says you need one then regardless of what you think you will need to get one.
If it is silent on the issue then a polite letter from you pointing this fact out and that in view of that fact you do not plan on obtaining one will hopefully suffice.
(Although the school may look at changing their policy soon after....)

Grace212 · 14/12/2018 11:12

the more people who stand up and say "this is ridiculous" - it's all a help. So I'd say that to school, yes. Totally understand why being at a GP surgery would be useless.

Hope he feels better asap.

tinymeteor · 14/12/2018 11:13

It's box ticking but it's driven by the way Ofsted measures attendance so the school aren't able to exercise much judgment.

Does your GP do telephone appointments? If they can issue a sicknote that way it's less of a waste of time for them and you.

OneStepMoreFun · 14/12/2018 11:15

Email GP explaining why you didn't want to bother them but school insists on a medical note.

Our surgery has a notice up asking people with viruses to stay away and NHS websites are covere din signs saying you don;t need to see the GP to recover from common flu, cold or D&V bugs unless symptoms become dangerous. With any luck your GP will see sense and email back confirming yoru son was ill on the dates you mentioned, to save herself from having to use up an appointment slot to do the same.

Roomba · 14/12/2018 11:20

My GP surgery will not provide sick notes for children at all. They have pile of standard letters in reception that you can take if needed - it states that they are not obliged to write notes for children as part of their NHS contract, unless there's an ongoing condition requiring further treatment/appointments/absence. The letter also asks parents not to book appointments for this purpose if at all possible as it uses up precious NHS appointments in a very busy practice.

You can pay around £30 for a letter, but if the child is now well all it will say is 'Patient reported XYZ symptoms. Patient states this is now resolved. As a result it is not possible to confirm the patient's diagnosis'. So a waste of time and money. There's no legal requirement for children to get sick notes, the NHS/government ones are only for adults and came about due to legislation re sick pay etc that don't apply to children.

TheGirlWithAllTheFeathers · 14/12/2018 11:21

I agree 8 days is a bit long to be off and not have seen a doc for a young child. I would just self-certify for DC and leave it there. What are they going to do?
It actually has just occurred to me that it could be a safeguarding issue - the school might be looking out for abused children and that might be an adequate time to let bruises fade. So maybe they're not being totally unreasonable. So maybe instead of a letter or email, pop in and have a word. Apologise but explain that you really didn't feel it was urgent enough to see the doc and you kept them at home where they were safe and warm.
Tis the season to be friendly after all. So maybe give them the benefit of the doubt.

TheGirlWithAllTheFeathers · 14/12/2018 11:22

Apparently 'so maybe' is my go-to phrase of the day....

ViragoKnows · 14/12/2018 11:23

Can you even get an appointment? Our surgery is gridlocked.

mumsastudent · 14/12/2018 11:28

www.caenmedicalcentre.nhs.uk/2017/12/19/when-not-to-go-to-your-gp/ link this into email & state that because dc had virus (& give full details) going to gp was not advisable according to NHS advice. Always be ultra polite when dealing with bureaucratic daftness however especially when dealing with jobsworth (I assume you rang them - by the by for anybody else - ring the school/email each day so there is a chain of updates, its a pain but that is the practice for work too, so it gives you more proof -

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 14/12/2018 11:28

I have to be honest and say I understand how you feel but at the same time if my child had been genuinely so unwell that they have been off school for an entire week, i'd be going to the GP.

winsinbin · 14/12/2018 11:29

Just explain what you have said here. Write a formal letter starting with with ‘I write to confirm’ That it was a viral infection that did not require medical intervention, that the GP cannot provide medical evidence of that and you do not intend to waste their time asking them. End ‘ I trust this letter will be sufficient evidence for you and this matter will end here’.

They may not like it but when I worked in attendance I would have accepted it.

Kelsoooo · 14/12/2018 11:31

I've just had similar, had to take my daughter for a scan.

It actually went across her dinner break (the appointment that is)

The school demanded "evidence" and "proof" (their words, even the demand!) I just refused. It's gone down as an unauthorised absence despite her not missing any lessons at all. And being there for both registration sessions.

So you can just refuse.

SheldonSaysSo · 14/12/2018 11:42

A lot of people seem to think 8 days is a long time for a child to be off without seeking medical attention. The thing is heavy colds/viruses can easily last longer than this and often rest and fluids is all thats needed.

I doubt the GP would even be able to give you a note as I'm assuming most of the visible symptoms have settled (if there were any) and it would cost you to get one. What a hassle for a child that otherwise has good attendance. I would politely tell them where to stick the note!

Grace212 · 14/12/2018 11:47

when I was a child, it was a given that I'd miss about 10 days each winter. I have asthma so don't recover from colds and coughs so easily, but even without it, so many nasty bugs around, it seems easy to see how this would happen.