Fit note question

[emmie72]

I called in sick today but I'm likely to be off longer than a week so will need a fit note. I'm confused when I need to ask the doctor for one. If I get one tomorrow then the date will overlap with the self cert period, but if I wait then I might not get an appointment in time before the self cert period ends. A quick Google suggests that a doctor can't forward date a sick note. So what's the right thing to do?

You need to ring gp just before your self certifying period is up. Have you already spoken to them?

Not yet, but knowing how busy they are, I'm worried about not getting the note in time

My organisation will accept a back dated fit note, mainly due to the issues staff face with getting GP appointments. Will work accept this?

I called and got in touch with my surgery's secretary team as I approached being off work a week (secretary's/admin line are usually a different option to the 'book an appointment' so you won't be holding anyone else up)

Stated my case unable to drive and have my employer asking for a fit note if I was to be off work past a week.

Secretary stated fit notes aren't issued automatically anymore, you do have to self-cert initially and that the GP would sign this off strictly when only required to do so - I did have to follow this up by another call and then got my Dad to collect it from reception but I understand you can ask/beg them to email it directly to you, which you can then just forward on. On day 8 of being away from work I was in receipt of a fit note. I know I have UC bubbling away in the background so lords knows what a mess that will make.

Does your surgery offer e consult on their website? You can request a fit note through that