GP's are useless

[Sho2207]

Just need to rant.
I've never had a problem with my GP and always wondered why everyone around me complained about theirs.. until last week.
I'm heavily pregnant and requested to be signed off work due to aches and pains (PGP) and mental health deteriorating due to work stresses.
I got denied, so decided to self certificate and try again towards the end of the week.

Now this worked and I had a sympathetic GP who signed me off for the week, she told me if I wanted it extended I'd need to register to a new GP in my area (I moved at the start of the year and still haven't got round to doing this).
This panics me because what if I can't get into another GP for a while? Am I supposed to just go back to work and suffer until then? Because she's already said I need another GP surgery to sign me off..
I've registered for a new GP around my area so waiting back for a response.

Anyway, this is where I start to get annoyed. Because I live quite far the GP said she'd email my sick note to me so then I don't have to travel down in pain. Brilliant I thought. Well, I never received this sick note, I called twice before the surgery shut and both times got told 'it's on the system, admin just need to sign it off and send it'

I've now waited all weekend due to them not being open, I've had to put my manager on pause because he's obviously trusting in the fact I've told him I've been signed off.
They've been open a few hours now and still no sick note.
I'm not waiting any longer because it isn't fair on my manager. I'm waiting for a call back now to see if i can just go and collect.

I've only got 2 and a bit weeks till I go onto mat leave so I'm hoping if I can't get anywhere else GP wise then my current surgery will just extend till then

Hi OP,

Try not to worry. It's easy to exaggerate when very frustrated and anxious, and your GP will understand your anxiety and depression even though previous posters here clearly didn't. I hope you get what you need soon - it will come, so try not to fret

@SpudsandGravy
Thank you for being so understanding.
I think users on here think I'm annoyed at the fact I have to change surgeries, which I'm not, I totally get it🤷🏻‍♀️

I'm quite young and this is all new to me so I have no idea of the process of changing surgeries because I've only ever been with one haha

"haven't had time" pffft

Had time to get pregnant... Register with midwifery team, gone to antenatal appointments... But it never occurred to you to change GPs, nor did you have any time to do so?

@00100001
Yes I haven't had the time. I work full time 13 hour shifts so by the time I finish work I mentally shut down and don't think about doing these type of things, especially when I don't usually go to the doctors.
Pft yourself

I'm not entirely sure why users are assuming I'm annoyed about having to change surgeries 😂 because I'm not.. I've been in the process of changing since being told I'd have to change..
it's not like they've told me to change and I've ignored it for the last however many months.

I was confused as to what to do now? As in, I've sent my register form off to the new surgery so will I need to wait for an acceptance email or something before I can book an appointment?

The only part I was upset about was not receiving the sick note after twice offering to go down and collect it

Some gps will not treat patients once out of area. Did your mw not suggest you reregistered closer to home? Where do you hope to deliver? Might be worth dropping new surgery an email asking if you are now accepted as a patient but ime you get a new nhs card once transfer is completed.

@LIZS
I had no idea until Friday when they told me I'd need to move.
Literally no one has mentioned anything to me, I have no idea how any of it works.
Thank you I'll give the new place an email

I don’t think people are under the impression that you are annoyed you have been told to change surgeries, but rather a bit incredulous that you didn’t think of that yourself when you’re pregnant. Where have your midwife appointments been? Where were you planing on taking the baby for their injections?

Also, remember your employer can force the start of your maternity leave rather than you go off sick at this point.

@PotteringAlong
I wasn't pregnant when I moved though, all my midwife appointments and hospital appointments have been in the area where my GP is, no ones ever mentioned it to me.
As for injections for the baby i was going to go to my GP because I thought I'd be allowed..
If I've never been told about something then how would I know I need to do it?

I pulled my mat leave forward to 35 weeks, my manager recommended I got myself signed off because he could see how much I was struggling

Which surgery is sending the fit note? Our are approving online & posting them out as they want as minimal face to face contact in the surgery as possible. If it's been approved today it will be dated from today and you'll be covered. The date your employer receives it won't matter. Or at least it shouldn't.

@iklboo
My current surgery, I'm in the process of transferring to a new one.
It is or should be dated from Friday, my manager seems to be ok at the moment, but because of my anxiety I have a fear that it's been forgotten about and that my manager might start getting angry with me

[quote Sho2207]@00100001
Yes I haven't had the time. I work full time 13 hour shifts so by the time I finish work I mentally shut down and don't think about doing these type of things, especially when I don't usually go to the doctors.
Pft yourself [/quote]
Well you've clearly had the time to do it. I presume you found the time to do things like watch TV?

You didn't realise that you needed to change surgeries, but to say you didn't have time is nonsense.

It's annoying and I do understand your anxiety. Your manager shouldn't be angry with you for something out of your control, though. Try not to panic. They should understand fit notes, post etc aren't being processed as quickly as usual. Is there someone in HR you can have a chat to so you can assure them it's on the way?

If your GP refused to "sign you off" then there would be a reason. And you don't go to the GP to be "signed off". You go to see whether they think you are fit for work or not.

@00100001
Okay, clearly nothing I say is going to cause you to have respect.
You've clearly never complained about anything in your life 🤷🏻‍♀️
Thanks for your helpful input

@iklboo
Yeah I'll give HR a call tomorrow and explain the situation, I'll also let my manager know that it is being processed.
Thank you for understanding

@Sho2207 sorry but I think your attitude is appalling. GPs are currently swamped dealing with a pandemic and organising a huge vaccination programme, in case you hadn’t noticed. Yes sick notes are still part of their job but it is routine work, which is not going to be prioritised on a Monday morning, especially the same Monday the next vaccine cohort is being rolled out.

The are actually doing you a favour by still treating you, if you are outside their catchment area. And as for ‘how would I know to move’ you are presumably an adult, it isn’t anyone’s job to tell you.

@Scrunchies
I'm not going to keep explaining myself.
I've already stated that the majority of this was written out in frustration which I'm sure a lot of people have been frustrated and said things in the past.
I've also apologised for it.

I didn't say I wasn't lucky for the GP sorting my note out, I was very lucky they did what they did considering I had no idea about needing to change.

You don't just hit a certain age and know everything. Life is a learning curve and I now know that if I ever move I need to change my GP surgery.

I think it's a little upsetting how someone can apologise for being frustrated over something (yes I was wrong to react the way I have about it) and still get horrible comments from people.

Think it's about time to delete MN and find somewhere more supportive

Try not to worry too much Sho2207
I've had quite a lot of experience of fit notes both from the employers perspective as I used to deal with them in a previous job, and more recently I've had a long term illness myself. It is really common for GP surgeries to take a few days to process them. As long as there's no gap in the dates on the certificates there shouldn't be a problem. Just keep in touch with your manager and/or HR, which it sounds like you are already doing. Most employers will understand that there are extra delays now, but even in normal times it can take a few days, especially after a phone consultation rather than a face to face one.
It sounds like you are under a lot of stress at the moment. The need to change GP at this stage is added pressure and yes, whilst you should have done it sooner, you've obviously realised that now you can't turn the clock back so there's not much point in everyone telling you! You've already acknowledged that you shouldn't blame the GPs, but it's a stressful situation - I think I might get a bit worked up if I was in your situation.
Probably the best thing to do is to call the new GPs in the next day or two, let them know your situation and ask them what they want you to do. Try to pick a quieter time to call - definitely not first thing in the morning - as the reception staff might have longer to talk to you if it isn't quite so busy.
I hope you get it sorted out soon.

@MrsAvocet
Thank you so much for understanding, I don't have anyone to vent too so came on here which was silly of me 🤦🏻‍♀️
I'm sure all of the stress will be unnecessary as usual haha

How is it the GPs' fault that you hadn't got round to registering with a GP when you moved?

This is your issue not changing gps! I can't see the gp has done anything wrong.