Please answer this very basic question

[Uhvee]

So son is a pilot for a budget airline. Stupidly he has not registered with his local gp surgery in the south. He is still with university gp surgery up in Newcastle.

Son has now contracted an ear infection. He went to a walk in centre and was only able to see a nurse who said he should not fly. Nurse told him only his gp can issue a fit note.

Airline is requiring a fit note.

Son is happy to pay for a private go/ENT. Would they be able to issue a note? Son is under impression this is not possible.

Any help would be most appreciated! Thanks in advance

Go with one of the online GPS. Previous poster is correct in saying that for that moment that is your GP.

A friends son did a video for the online GP them emailed it to them with ID, in the video he just said he wanted a note because he was feeling sick and had vomited and his university had required him to get a sick note or whatever the correct name is. I think it was about £30 or £40? They then emailed a note in return. That was it.

Most airlines even budget ones have private health insurance that includes a private GP - doesn't he have this? They will have a corporate helpline

That's ridiculous! I'd be looking for somewhere more efficient.

Does he have decent life or income protection insurance? I have access to private GPs 24/7 through mine. It might be worth him checking.

Yes he is speaking tomorrow with gp he has booked via his company. And has a back up also from another gp online service. He is just wanting immediate reassurance I think as he has a scheduled flight (tomorrow morning) which he is going to have to cancel before speaking to a gp (appointments are tomorrow evening). He has got mixed answers on whether or not they will be able to issue a note without seeing him.

And I’ve shared the fact fit notes can be back dated (thanks to posters who pointed that out).

You're allowed to see a GP locally if you are visiting somewhere

You read my mind. He does have a loss of license something or other. I have been researching income protection ever since he told me of this issue. I feel sick!

Thank you. I have screenshotted your msg to him.

Presumably if he's old enough to fly an aeroplane full of people he's able to sort/ not sort this himself. Step away, it's none of your business.

Your son isn’t the one who cancels the flight. Thanks the airline’s responsibility. He’s told them he’s ill, they say he can’t fly without a note (the correct response), let them deal with it. If they can arrange a private GP to certify him then great.

There is no obligation for anyone to have an NHS GP and there are some people who only have private GPs. All your son has to do is sign up and see a private GP and then that will be his GP.

Hope he gets it sorted soon.

Have a heart. He has booked a hotel as he is in pain and resting (was sent to a base that is not his home base). Today is his day off.

Im his mum and just trying to see if I can find a solution. Son is the one who has arranged the online gp appointments.

He has heard conflicting things.

What are you worried about? The threshold for being fit to pilot an aircraft is pretty high. No airline wants to create a safety risk by having an unwell man at the controls. They deal with this all the time.

My concern is that when he’s had his niggling ear sensation this week he has caused permanent damage. I’m a pessimist.

Well aren't you a sympathetic soul .

@Uhvee is worried about her Ds and is trying to help him via the power of mn . Absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Can he not just register with his local GP surgery and make an appointment?

Seems a bit daft that someone can diagnose, tell him not to fly but not also issue a fit note.

Surly a GP would want to see & diagnose for themselves anyway?

Hope he gets sorted out.

I agree, the nurse that reviewed him could give a fit note. I’m a nurse and have given a six month note to someone today! So she could have done one for a week or two, especially if she is the one advising him not to fly, she should back that up with a note.

My son got a letter from a walk in gp - they should have been able to do that

Oh I see you are worried he’ll never be able to fly again? I’m not a doctor but that sounds unlikely. In the very unlikely event it has caused an ongoing ear issue the airline will give him a proper assessment before anything drastic happens, and they will want to do what they can so as not to lose their investment in training him I’m sure. Try not to worry.

All kinds of people can do fit notes now, including physios and pharmacists. Surely he can find someone to do it, even a friend in that profession.

Whenever I've needed a fit note, it's been done online. That's the process required by the surgery. You don't need an appt.