I can see OP has her med3, but for info Employers have been told to allow more time than usual for med3 certificates or letters informing then the patient has been advised to self-isolate etc, to allow for this situation.
Most employers will want the original copy and so emailed copies are not done- also it takes up more time to scan and send the email. Posting means someone else has to go to the post office, which again is being avoided unless no other choice. I’m surprised the surgery allowed you in. I’m a dr and good friends are GP’s- their surgeries are entry only if absolutely necessary and by prior appointment, doors locked to prevent people wandering in (as this was happening despite warnings on the door). However, I suppose they have their own procedures in place.
As for the GP seeming quiet, I think you just aren’t seeing the activity going on- fewer patients in the building is to be expected but the GP’s and their staff will be still be busy. They won’t be sitting twiddling thumbs!
I know at our surgery, and those my friends work in, that patients wanting seen are getting telephone triage by a GP, those needing to be seen will get an appointment. Important chronic disease management (e.g. bloods for patients taking immunosuppressive medication) will still be being done but trying to separate times to minimise patient contact and allow cleaning of room etc. There is also A LOT of behind the scenes work- e.g. summaries for high risk patients to be released to out of hours/a&e/hospital and paramedics. This has to be done manually for each patient. We are asking GP’s to try and sort out Anticipatory care plans for the frail elderly, make sure NOK details are up to date and so on. This all takes time.
Key information summaries normally need individual consent to release to secondary care and ambulance service (these summaries tell us in secondary care about repeat and acutely prescribed medications, any recorded allergies, key diagnoses, who is recorded next of kin and their details, does the patient have a DNACPR/subject to peer of attorney and so on). If you are admitted and unable to tell us/ we can’t find out from your family quickly, this information could prove vital. This need for usual consent has been temporarily suspended, but still has to be recorded that this is the case and manually released. My friends surgery has done nearly 2000 of these in the last few day’s- very labour intensive.
GP’s are also being pulled from their surgeries to help man local covid response/assessment. They will have staff absences, including nurses and GP’s. They are having to navigate the new pathways and protocols, creating some for their surgeries/staff etc. All adding to workload. Please don’t assume your GP’s are quiet.