Complicated fit note situation - apologies it is long

[Sharpkat]

Not sure if anyone has any advice. I am not a member of a union- never have been due to industry I work in.

Have been off work since mid October. I had a complete breakdown at work and told several people I was actively suicidal. My IT access and phone were cut off, the head of HR spoke to my GP and a clinical psychologist and they did everything they could to put in place support.

I spoke to my employer at the end of October and they said they did not envisage me being back before 2024. I expressed my concern at that option as have only been employed since June and on a one year FTC. They said they would pay me in full. I then said I was on holiday at the end of January for almost 3 weeks and they said fine, see you after that.

I have been providing fit notes, despite the full pay. Some from NHS GP and some from private GP. Technically I don't need them as not claiming from DWP. Every time I send one in they say they will call me that week but not heard since first week in November.

Applied for a fit note on Friday as mine ran out on Saturday. Nothing back from GP. I suspect they think I am taking the piss as 99% of health professionals involved suspect it is perimenopause. Emailed employer to say as much.

Is there anything I can do to force myself back into the workplace? I don't feel comfortable being paid in full for doing nothing until mid Feb (after holiday).

Are you now well enough? If you are you need an appointment with your doctor to discuss this. Then you can return to work if they agree. If you are not yet well then no why would you return to work?

A fit note is advisory

Does your workplace have occupational health? I think you need an assessment by them. They then communicate with your managers so that contact gets going. You might then find out if they have any support services they could offer you.

You could try ringing ACAS? They're very helpful as a rule.

It’s pretty possible your GP just hasn’t got round to it yet?

Do you think you are now mentally well enough to go back?

Whether you are claiming from DWP or not is not relevant to the fit note. Your employer will be claiming back some of the cost of the money they are paying you while you're off so they need the fit notes as proof of your absence.

Thanks for the replies. An appointment to speak with my GP is 6 weeks at the earliest.

We do have occupational health and my employer said I would need to speak with them before I could return but then my employer has avoided speaking with me since early November.

I am well enough to work.

I am on a waiting list for list for HRT measures and that won't be until March at the earliest.

I may try ACAS tomorrow. I know they have recruited someone else as well

Are you well,OP? İt's not a good idea to "force yourself back" if you are not ready.

I agree with PP that occupational health assessment might be helpful.

Sorry, X post

Can you contact occupational health directly? We have an employee advice line where i work.

You can go back before your certificate ends. Details here may be helpful: www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/caring-carers-and-long-term-conditions/can-i-go-back-to-work-before-the-end-date-on-my-fit-note/

I would contact occupational health directly but you need an employer referral. I often make referrals so know they will not talk directly.

I would go back tomorrow but all of my IT and phone is completely cut off.

Not sure where to turn next.

Firstly your GP needs to sign you back as fit for work, with or without adjustments. When that happens you need to write formally to your employer to note your intention to return to work and to request a BTW meeting.

Have you told us everything?

You must be able to see a GP in less than 6 weeks? What if you were actively ill?

Are you well enough to go back? Can't you just enjoy time off until the planned return? What's driving you to go back sooner?

Definitely told you everything. Fit notes are advisory. Don't need to be confirmed as fit to work by a GP to return. I don't have a current fit note either.

Cannot get a GP appointment before 6 weeks. Believe me I have tried. I changed surgeries in August as the first one I requested an appointment about perimenopause in April and still did not have an appointment by mid August.

Have you asked the GP's receptionist what you are supposed to do? Sounds daft, but you can't be the first person in this situation.

Can you phone your employer and ask for a referral to occupational health to discuss your return to work? They can assess whether you're fit to return to full duties, whether you would benefit from a phased return and whether you need any adjustments.

Doea your employer have an absence/attendance policy? If so that should detail the usual procedure for returning to work after long term sickness. I would expect long term sickness to have already triggered a referral to occ health, that is certainly the case at my employer.

In my experience if you feel well enough to return to work then your GP doesn't need to sign it off, unless you were sectioned maybe. If your fit note has expired and you feel ready then you can return to work.

Are you sure you do? If you were actively suicidal and think it's perimenopause and you've not yet had HRT then what has changed to make you feel better?

Your work may not have contacted you but why don't you call your boss. Have a chat, ask for an Occ Health referral. Don't wait for them to ring you, people are busy and not expecting to see you til after your holiday so make the first move if you're keen to return.

Personally I'd wait til February and go back then. Be really sure you are well enough to return. I know it's tough getting through to the GP but they can't leave you hanging, as a PP said ring the receptionist and ask them to suggest a way forward.

Thanks for all of the replies. I spoke to the GP receptionist earlier and they have now issued me with a fit note until mid February.

Have tried to call my employer but they don't answer. Have emailed requesting a conversation and that just gets a "I'll call this week." I cannot speak to Occ Health until my employer refers me so am in a vicious circle.

I think a phased return in January would be helpful as four full months off is going to make it even harder to return.

Have not been sectioned. The GP thinks it is a combination of perimenopause, a chronic pain condition, recurrent anxiety and depression and social isolation.

What has happened in terms of treatment since October? Is there a reason your GP won’t prescribe HRT? Have you looked at the NICE guidelines?

GP did blood tests and called me to say "you have not been through the menopause." I am allergic to all medication (apart from the progesterone only pill) so need to have a coil fitted and oestrogen gel. Cannot get the coil fitted until late February.

GP referred me to a psychiatrist (private medical) and said nothing they could do for me in primary care as allergic to all medication. Psychiatrist saw me for 20 mins and referred me back to GP saying nothing he could do.

Spoke to the NHS Talking Therapies team who said my "scores" indicate severe anxiety and depression, but as I have had CBT in the past nothing they can do so referred back to GP.

Social prescribing team referred me to the gym. Gym won't allow anyone with osteoarthritis onto their programmes.

Been seeing a clinical psychologist and have an autism assessment in March.

Nothing rheumatologist or pain consultant can do as am unable to tolerate the medication.

I just flip between one healthcare professional to another.

@Sharpkat fit notes are required by your employer to pay you SSP. You may be on full pay but your employer should be paying SSP and topping you up.

If you feel you are fit for work in January contact your GP on 2nd Jan and ask for a fit note saying you maybe fit for work from if these adjustments are put in place - a phased return from 2 Jan e.g. 3 hours a day for first week, increasing by an hour a week (or what ever you think best).

Thanks @Sisterpita - they won't let me back with just a fit note with adjustments from a GP. I will need to meet with Occ Health first. Also, they are not paying me SSP and topping up. They were clear that if I did not provide fit notes it was not a problem at all and that I should not feel guilty about taking money from such a large/profitable firm. I work in the HR team and regularly manage similar cases.

I think my frustration is that they won't engage. I cannot just log on and go back to work at any point as my IT access has been completely cut off.

Ah that makes a difference.

If they are not engaging then honestly I would be pragmatic about this. It’s 1 day to Christmas and only 3 working days to New Year. Put it out of your mind and then start again on 2 Jan.

On 2 Jan send an email asking them to refer you to OH and to contact you to discuss. Start to create a paper trail showing you have tried to engaged and they are not responding.

Thanks @Sisterpita I have emailed weekly/fortnightly. Yes, I am going to just unwind for the rest of the year and see what happens in the new year.

Would it help,to book a private GP appointment. They aren't that expensive. (Obviously might still be too expensive)

Thanks @14Q I have access to a private GP through work. I have spoken to them several times and there is nothing they are able to do to assist. They suggested speaking to the union but I am not in one.