Visiting GP surgery

[Oxo01]

I have been off work for quiet a few weeks now ( not virus related) and have not been out for this period at all, I am due to send an updated fit note to work this week but could not get appointment till Thursday this week, however considering the spread of the virus etc I called the surgery to see if I should still attend, they advised that i could cancel the appointment and the GP could call me for telephone consultation (which would also free up the appointment for someone else ) which i did and he called me on Monday of this week.
He issued a new fit note which I have to collect from the surgery which is about an hour bus ride away ( no parking nearby) I didn't think about this untill today and given the advise not to go out unless urgent medicle needs, I called the surgery today to ask f they could email me it , the receptionist said they could not do this due to the system which is fine, so i asked if they could post it rather than me travelling on a lengthy bus ride etc but the receptionist said no they cannot.

I would not ask for this any other time at all, but think this surley is a simple way to reduce people leaving there homes which we are being told not to. Obviously it would help me but I genuinely thought this would help reduce people being out and about.

I'm sorry my mistake re moving.

I'm sure the receptionist would rather post a letter than have OP come in and cough on her. OP could quite possibly develop symptoms overnight.

Well obviously not or they would have said yes. That is the whole point of the thread. They said no.

@13maggiecate, I think I'm just gonna go and collect it as it's just gonna be dragged out.

They said I don't have to move from them as I moved not to far away but on buss it takes about 1hr, I choose to stay with them. They have a long time ago posted me a letter from a consultant that I was not copied into so yes they can do it but maybe just to busy with this crises going on.

@20playthestation, no mistake it's how I worded it, did move but not that far just by public transport very long routes.

I did not move away

did move but not that far just by public transport very long routes.

Goodnight.

I've not been out for many weeks,had no actual contact with family and O/H has been on leave for 2 weeks so not been exposed to any bugs or had any signs of symptoms etc so fingers crossed lol.
Gonna get cab.

@20playthestation, No they contacted me first years ago as I usually only saw a GP once a year if that, they said I could stay if I wanted to so I chose to stay, if they said I had to change I would have.

Op before you go in tomorrow maybe call again and ask if they can email it. The receptionists are under a lot of pressure but you may get a different response if someone else answers

Maybe explain your anxiety about going in and ask if you can cover the cost of the postage? I’m sure most surgery’s would prefer no one enters unless they really don’t have to

@06Thepigeonsarecoming, thanks thought about it and I'm gonna get a cab ,if they have one, better than sitting on a bus for an hour or so, with loads of different people, although the cab driver could be, but I'll sit in back and cross my fingers and try to distance as much as I can in the car.
Night, better go to bed or ill be going no where tomorrow.

My GP surgery will post if you send them a self addressed envelope with a stamp on it (they say the NHS can't afford to buy stamps to post everything to everyone which is fair enough).

Send a short note with the envelope explaining what it's for, I'm sure they'll do it but you could call to check. Supermarkets sell envelopes and stamps.

Until recently, I lived 400 yards from my doctor. On public transport it would have taken me 90 minutes on a good day.

OP you are not being unreasonable, people just seem to be looking for a fight tonight!

@TiggerOfThigh, exactly I'm bit further away than you but that's how it is on PT for me but I dont mind in normal circumstances but its the actual possible risks involved in going out as government advise, compared to a one off posting a letter.
I did offer SAE etc but no couldn't do, i'm up and will be going to surgery soon get it done and dusted.
Thanks for all replys and views.

My dad is go receptionist

She said you are typical. They get demands to do this,that the other all the time. Post it?? You expect someone to GO OUT to a post office/post box when they already had to GO OUT to work??

I had mine emailed and posted to me - why won't they do that?

thanks thought about it and I'm gonna get a cab ,if they have one, better than sitting on a bus for an hour or so, with loads of different people, although the cab driver could be, but I'll sit in back and cross my fingers and try to distance as much as I can in the car.

Don't get a cab, way too close to a stranger who may also have multiple strangers sitting in your seat touching everything you do without sanitation. The buses are far more spacious and not packed at all and you can get off at any stop if you feel uncomfortable.

Also, crossing fingers is not a reliable deterrent for any illness.

Before you leave, call again and ask to speak to practice manager.

This should be sorted without you going to surgery, it's an infection risk for you and for them, and is against the current government guidelines.

Yabu

I would ring and offer to send in a self addresses envelope before you make the journey.

Then someone ( who has been abused by the public all day) has to make a special trip to a postbox to post it. Making more work and relying on goodwill of staff

Can work not wait? If the note is written can they not have it when all of this has died down? My work happily waited when I couldn’t get to the GP to pick up a note relating to why I was off for a period of a couple of months before having DD1. They ended up waiting 2 months or so 🤷🏻‍♀️ But at no point put pressure on me for it

Agree with @schafernaker - tell yourself work you will give it to them later. Legally they can’t withhold sick pay for a late fit note as they are already aware you are off sick (am an HR Consultant).

As OP said, it’s nothing to do with expectations or entitlement - we’ve all been told it’s essential journeys only.

What’s really needed is more funding for the NHS so they can introduce smarter systems that don’t rely on physical pieces of paper... but that’s another story isn’t it!

OP hope you get better soon.

I do not know why the NHS won't get with the times and use email. It's ridiculous really. It will save them time and money. All those appointment letters sent out could be sent by email unless opting out.

They can email it to you. Last time I had a fit note my practice emailed it to me a couple of hours after my chat with the doctor.

Speak to the practice manager.

I thought they wanted to minimise people going out and in particular people visiting the surgery. This HAS to be the priority right now. I would call and ask to speak to the practice manager. I can't believe that they want you to come in and risk spreading C19 for this. People are waffling on about pressure on the NHS. There will be way more pressure if OP travels across town and spreads C19 to loads if people or catches it and ends up in hospital. It takes 5 mins to stick something in an envelope. And they will definitely be posting other things so it can just go into the pile with those to be collected or taken to be posted.

Thank you for all your thoughts, just to update
I decided to drive my own car O/H said he was working from home today so he came with me, I parked around the corner ( not allowed and no parking metre facilities) and he popped in to collect it so if any traffic wardens I could move away quick.
Prior to leaving I called surgery to ensure he could pop in and get it, I was informed that it could not be found, she called me back 20 mins later to say she found it so all ok.

Normally when you call them it's like hearing a noise from a football match in the background ( the surgery almalgmated with 2 others last year so always packed and noisey) but you could hear a pin drop on the line.

O/H said there was not 1 patient in there, and was told that most people have stayed away in the last week as the surgary advised people not to come unless absolutely urgent.

For those views that say I Expect things, I don't expect anything ever from anyone I just asked / thought this would be safer for all given the current climate and given the fact that when I asked if I should still attend my original appointment I was Told to cancel it and the doctor would do a telephone consultation which receptionist said was better for all.

Regarding typical patient remark - I don't think so, I and my O/H work for Health and Social care and NHS so am aware of the strains and pressure everyone is under at the best of times let alone now and i am aware what they can and can't do as we contact each other via secure email etc. Bet if I had kept my original appointment I would have been told I should NOT have come !!
As someone else commented they have daily outgoing post in / out !
Anyway it's sorted now thanks for your suggestions and advise.
Stay safe everyone x