1 week wait for fit note

[Jrvwo94]

Hi all

I was recently in Hospital and diagnosed with a condition for which I am taking medication. I was already warned that it will take some time due to my levels being so high but I wasn't expecting this level of weakness.

Today is day 9 of my sickness, I requested the note on day 8 in the morning (tried on day 7 but they refused) The next available appt is next week Friday afternoon. I know they can backdate the note but I am wondering whether there are any other options e.g. a private fit note. My employer has asked me how long for the note, initially I told them 5 days processing time (as per the website, my mistake) and I was not expecting the appt to be next week

I am finding it difficult to wake up early (06:30) to report my absence daily. This is the policy, I cannot ring the evening before, it must be on the day via phone and once i'm awake all the symptoms start again and I feel like hell. I can't get back to sleep no matter what. My manager understandably asks if I expect to come back within the next few days and I try my best to explain that I just don't know. She also tells me how difficult it is as one of my colleagues have left, and now I am also off sick so she's very stressed out.

Every call ends with her saying she will check back in with me the day after tomorrow as I could just bounce back

Is it worth paying for a private note? Is this accepted? Or better to just wait and continue reporting daily?

Luckily I have never needed a note so I guess I wasn't expecting a week wait for a phone appt so just wondering if I have a choice really

Advice appreciated

Tia

You need to stop saying just "I don't know" as your manager is being unrealistic thinking that you might be well again in a day or two. Next time you are on the phone, you need to say clearly "I am very ill, I've been in hospital with this and it's making my health worse to have to phone you with updates at 6:30 every morning. I will not be well enough to work for at least 2 weeks and I will be getting a Fit Note confirming this as soon as possible but I cannot keep up with these calls. The company policy wouldn't be requiring me to make these phone calls if I was in a coma and so there has to be some flexibility to just accept that I will need some time and stop expecting me to confirm daily that I am still ill when getting good sleep is one of the things I need in order to get well."

NB you must not return to work as soon as symtoms subside. You need a few days of convalescence AFTER your treatment is successful, or you will make yourself ill again, so make sure you add a week to your projections of when you might return.

Can’t you just request one online from your GP? Is there a reason you need to wait for your appointment? If your medical notes back it up (which they sound like they do as you’ve already been seen) then won’t they just issue one? Mine do on their online system. If it’s a new condition you’ve not seen any doctor about then they won’t, but if it’s ongoing they usually do (unless it’s something like mental health where they usually want to assess you in person).

Thanks @LightlyRoamingOcelots you are right. I need to be more firm especially now that it is becoming stressful every morning. I shouldn't even have to worry about the fit note especially as they assured me it will be backdated. I appreciate your reply

Ever since the Patchs system came in, they've been very slow with notes at ours. Too many people have said that years ago, it was easy and now they have problems for me not to believe it.
I wouldn't pay for private, you will hopefully get it eventually.

If you’ve been in hospital and been advised of the time it will take you to recover then you shouldn’t need a GP appointment. They should have your hospital summary and should just be able to issue a Fit note.

You need to tell your manager the hospital have said it will take X weeks to recover and therefore you will not be at work for that period and will be sending in a Fit note whenever it is issued. That should stop you having to phone every day

Yes, you need to be more firm. In this situation I would not make someone call in every morning. But then, I also wouldn’t moan to an ill staff member about things that are my job as manager to sort.

Thanks all. Luckily there was a cancellation so I ended up getting a phone consult for the fit note today! It is a new condition so they needed to speak with me first. Appreciate all the replies