Help please - where can I get a sick note other than the GP?

[nuggets3]

Posting for traffic, hopefully someone can advise.

My job is making me severely ill and causing me a lot of anxiety and stress. I have tried to plough through for the last 6 months (been there for 2 years, long story) but I can't do it anymore. I'm applying for other jobs. I want to take time off whilst I look for something else.

The thing is I have just moved house and I'm not registered with the GP yet. I'm not sure how long it will take to get an appointment once I've completed the paperwork either.

If I were to go to a pharmacy would they be able to give me one? Does anyone know?

I don't think so? Can you go back to your old doctors?

Only a GP can provide sick notes

Only a GP, you could do this via a consult with a private GP.

A private GP could do you one. Even the ones on the apps will.

Sorry, a pharmacy won't be able to do this, it needs to be a professional involved in your care who assesses your fitness for work. You can self certify for 7 days first though which will give you some time to get an appointment sorted.

Download a self cert for 1st 7 days

The government website says

“Getting a fit note
Employees can get a fit note from the following healthcare professionals:

• GP or hospital doctor
• registered nurse
• occupational therapist
• pharmacist
• physiotherapist”

The healthcare professional needs to assess the employee’s fitness for work before giving a fit note.

Fit notes are free if the employee has been ill for more than 7 days when they ask for one. The healthcare professional might charge a fee if the employee has been ill for 7 days or less.”

There is more on the website.

A private GP (BUPA) wouldn’t give me a sick note last year, I tried them when my own GP wanted me to wait a month for an appointment. They were able to prescribe sertraline/propranolol though which did help.

You can self-certify for the first 7 days, then my own employer was understating enough to wait an extra week until I managed to see the GP.

Register with the GP asap and take care x

Self cert for 7 days.
you can also register as a temporary resident and be seen by a GP

My partner definitely got one from Push Doctor a couple of years ago, but I couldn't say if they still do them. Maybe ask before paying for an appointment if you go down the online GP route.

Register with a GP or go and see your old one, assuming you’re still listed as a patient. It doesn’t take long to register, my son was able to get an appointment within a few days. Good luck with the job search and feel better soon 💐

If you have health insurance, you may have access to video consultations and could obtain a cert this way.

@nuggets3 sick notes can be back dated so appointments to get one aren’t classed as urgent. Tell work you are ill, register with your local GP and request the sick note. If work kick up a fuss just explain you are in the process of registering with a new GP. Just make sure to check the policy of your employer to see if it states a time frame in which the note has to be provided.