How do you get a fit/sick note extended?

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I've been signed off work for the last two weeks. I've never been signed off before so I don't know the process of getting it extended. I'm due to go back to work on Tuesday but I'm not well enough yet. There's no online facility at my GP practice to get it extended so I need to ring them. Do I ring tomorrow, the last day of my current sick note, or do I need to wait until it runs out and ring on Tuesday?

Typically, it's re-issued once the current one runs out but I would be inclined to ring tomorrow anyway.

Ring the gp tomorrow and just explain your sick note runs out the next day but you are still unwell and you need it to be extended. They will likely just do it and you won’t even need to speak to the GP depending on your practice.

It can be back dated no problem….so if you don’t get round to ringing tomorrow don’t worry

This is something that I think causes unnecessary stress to people who are unwell because typically they want to issue them once they’re run out but that means you have to guarantee that they will agree to do so or else you’ll be in trouble at work.

I would call your GP and explain to the receptionist. Ask if you need to make another appointment or if the doctor is able to extend the sick note to another week. Hope you feel better soon.

Never had a problem getting an extension……don’t know anyone who’s had a problem….gp won’t even want to see OP….it’s a waste of an appointment to them ….they will just fill out another one….at my gp they just ask you how long you want the next one for…then it’s emailed to you the next day….no dramas

I just phoned up and they said they'd get the GP to issue one. As long as I'd been seen they didn't seem to want to see me again.

(It was sinusitis in January 2020, I remember it very clearly because it was absolute agony. Then COVID happened).

Thank you everyone for your replies.

Yes, this is what I'm concerned about @FuzzyWolf... If I have to wait until it expires on Tuesday, at my surgery you have to ring at 9am to get in the queue for a GP to ring you back. I'm due at work at 9am (but can work from home), so do I have to tell my employer I'm not fit to work on Tuesday and hope that a) I get through to surgery before all the calls are gone for the day and b) hope that the GP agrees to extend it? If either of these points don't go to plan I'll have phoned in sick with no evidence to cover me for that day.

Have you checked the practice' website? I can extend a sick note via the website for my GP. It's an 'admin request '. You simply explain when you need the note to start and end and why. The GP then signs of off and texts / emails it over.

People who are off work with work related stress due to bullying etc., really worry about this. It is undue stress added.

Happens a lot for my colleagues and believe it or not, I work for a trade union.

It will get backdated or covered. Just ring or go via PATCHS

Hope you're okay OP X

Phone the surgery and tell the receptionist. It's likely that you will either get a text/email with the new fit note, a phone call from the GP, then a fit note, or an invitation to make an appointment.