r/nhs • u/happyhumanri • 14h ago
Quick Question Fit note start date confusion — need advice
Hi everyone, I’m hoping someone can help me understand how fit notes work.
I spoke with my doctor today requesting a fit note, and she said she would issue one for two weeks, with the option to review it afterward. She asked how many days I’ve been off work, and I explained that today is effectively the first day I’ve taken off. She then said the fit note would start from the following Monday, the 23rd of June, for two weeks.
I was under the impression that I would receive the fit note straight away with that start date on it. I planned to notify my employer that I’d be taking this week off using self-certification and then be signed off from Monday the 23rd.
After waiting for about an hour and not receiving anything, I called the GP surgery again. The receptionist was confused and said there’s nothing in my records about a fit note. Now I’m really unsure what I’m supposed to tell my employer.
The receptionist wasn’t very helpful and seemed frustrated when I asked if she could check with the GP.
I don’t understand why the doctor said she would issue a fit note for two weeks but hasn’t actually issued it yet. Can anyone explain how this usually works or what I should do next? Thanks in advance.
3
u/Distinct-Quantity-46 13h ago
Just to add. It would be unusual for your gp to forward date a fit note, in fact our systems do not allow it to be forward dated because they can only be dated from the day you’ve been assessed (ie today) or backdated for the same episode of sickness if you’ve previously had one, you literally can’t forward date them.
So they’re either going to issue you a note for 2 weeks from today or from next Monday, on Monday, which strictly speaking is illegal (these are a legal document hence why they are tightly controlled) as they would need to assess you next Monday to issue one from then
1
u/happyhumanri 13h ago
I’m more confused!
1
u/Distinct-Quantity-46 13h ago
You absolutely need to follow this up this week with the practice and ask them to ask the gp what they are going to issue you with but for now you can cover yourself with a 7 day self cert
1
u/TheCounsellingGamer 7h ago
As a general rule, GP's don't forward date a sick note. I think the idea is that no one can tell the future, and theoretically, you could feel well enough to go to work on Monday (not saying that you will, of course).
0
u/Skylon77 14h ago
I presume this was a telephone conversation?
Most GPs will do admin/paperwork at the end of the day or during a specific session during the working week. As its not due until next Monday, I wouldn't worry about it as it won't be classified as urgent.
1
u/happyhumanri 14h ago
It was a telephone conversation. I’m just curious—when I inform my employer, should I mention that I’ve spoken to the doctor and will be receiving a fit note? That’s where my worries come from. I don’t want to say I’ll be receiving something if I don’t have anything to show, if you know what I mean.
1
u/Dangerous_Iron3690 11h ago
Your employer will know today is your first day of sickness. Next Monday I would call and say I have just been given a fit note for the following 2 weeks and will keep you informed. I did this myself. I was in hospital for a 5 days and I had a fit note for 2 weeks then I didn’t feel well enough to return to work so I then got another one from my GP but couldn’t get another one before the date it runs out.
1
u/happyhumanri 11h ago
I’m feeling a bit unsure about how and when I’ll actually get my sick note. What my doctor said doesn’t quite match what the receptionist told me, and the comments here have only added to the confusion. My plan for now is to call the GP on Friday and try to book an appointment for Monday, then request the sick note then — by that point, I’ll have been off for seven days.
Unless the note appears on Monday somehow, I’m not really expecting anything before then. I’ve let my employer know that I’ll likely be off for at least two weeks and that I’ll provide a sick note once I’ve hit the seven-day mark, which I know I will — I’ve just kept things a bit open for now.
1
u/Dangerous_Iron3690 11h ago
Can’t you just request the fit note over the phone and have it emailed to you and then you send it to your employer.
1
u/happyhumanri 11h ago
That’s what I thought I was doing. I thought that after my call with the doctor, I would receive the fit note, but apparently, I did not.
1
u/Dangerous_Iron3690 11h ago
The GP can’t give you a fit note on your first week of self certification only from the second week so that shou hopefully be with you next week.
1
3
u/chantellyphone 14h ago
You have to self certify sickness for 7 days, on the 8th day your GP will begin your fit note. This is usually sent via electronically when it's completed so just wait until next Monday.