Fit note for work re stress and anxiety

[Sunflower1650]

I’ve been trialling different medications for stress and anxiety for a few months. SSRIs all seemed to cause nausea and vomiting so instead my amitriptyline dose has been increased to see if that helps as it doesn’t give me side effects on a lower dose. Two weeks ago my 4 year old had open heart surgery and afterwards got pneumonia and his lung collapsed. At times we were scared we were going to lose him when his oxygen levels weren’t going up. We are now out of hospital but since then my mental health has been in the gutter. I am barely eating, can’t sleep and I’ve been having panic attacks. I have been off work for 3 weeks now, two weeks compassionate leave and this week as self certified sick leave. I contacted my GP a week ago and asked for a fit note because there’s no way I can work in this state and my son still needs so much care. The receptionist told me they would pass it to a GP for “consideration of a med3 form”. A week on and I still don’t have the fit note. When I phone up they just tell me the GP only works part time and it’s been passed to one particular GP so they can’t ask another one to sort it. I have phoned again this morning, the receptionist snapped at me and I ended up in tears. As of Monday I will be expected back at work. I work in the public sector, they are strict about these things and without a fit note I assume I’ll be facing disciplinary action so this is causing even more stress. What can I do? I have never requested a fit note before but I assume it doesn’t usually take this much time?

Can you apply for parental leave? It’s unpaid but you can take it in week blocks until you can sort something else out. I’m sorry to hear about your DC and MH. Hope things get better soon.

Can’t you just fill in a form online to ask for a fitnote OP? Thats what I’ve been doing for months and the GP provides it within minutes without question.

Unfortunately not, the website is down for my GP practice and has been for weeks so everything is done by phone call or appointment. I could go on unpaid parental leave but I’m just really frustrated that I’m struggling to get this fit note when I’ve never felt this low in my life (and hardly had any time off sick in my 14 years of working where I do).

I’m sorry you are being treated so poorly. Could you book an appointment to see a GP and then get the fitnote at the appointment? You could tell your manager that you are still unwell and have an appointment to see your GP. Fitnotes can be backdated so your employer wouldn’t be able to start disciplinary action.