Sick note for cough and lost voice?

[Ivyanna]

I'm a teacher and have never needed more than a day or two off before. I was off all of last week with a bad cough/cold, possibly COVID (though I didn’t test). I first became unwell the week before but was well enough to work. I’m now heading into a third week of symptoms. The cough hasn’t shifted, my voice hasn’t fully returned, and I’m getting coughing fits when speaking.
I saw a doctor at the end of last week who prescribed antibiotics but said it was just a viral cough. I don’t feel awful in myself, and in another job I’d probably manage, but I don’t think I can teach effectively in this state.
If I’m not well enough to go in on Monday, I won’t be able to self-certify anymore. Can I call the GP on Monday morning to request a sick note? Can they refuse it? How long would it cover? I’m feeling a lot of guilt about being off and hoping I’ll improve, but I know I can’t teach without a voice and while having coughing fits mid-sentence.

If you’re using ChatGPT you need to remove the wording at the start and end of your post 😂

Oh you’ve edited now 🙄

Thanks, was using it to make my post clear and less rambled.

If you have to use PATCHES system it guides you with questions so you can say when you need the note to start and when you expect you will feel better. It also has a question about what can help you return to work but you can skip that because that’s more for long term sickness. Generally they are usually 4 weeks by default or two weeks by default but if you think you just need one for a week then you can specify. In your situation I would request at least 2 weeks because you will feel rough if you go back too soon
ETA - if you feel better you can’t return before the note runs out because the Dr has certified you can’t work during that period.

Are you on your third week of feeling really unwell? Do you have a fever?

The doctor should really give you a steroid inhaler if the cough is that bad. The trouble with coughing is it irritates your cilia and that makes you cough more and then you're exhausted on top of everything else.

I think a sicknote will cover you for five days, but I would ask for a steroid inhaler. I hope you feel better soon.

Most GP's will give you a Fit Note to cover 5-7 days. If you get a Fit Note on Monday, it will likely cover you from Monday 13th October to Sunday 19th October. You would then need to call on Monday 20th October, to extend it if necessary. If you've lost your voice, then it's going to be difficult to teach. You need to rest your voice, which will be impossible at work.