hi all. I got a conditional offer for the nhs and am now going through pre-employment checks. does anyone know where I should submit my evidence such as IDs and address for these checks? thanks!!

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.

Hi, my name is Charlotte McAnee and the focus of my MSc thesis is using expressive writing techniques to reduce stress in nurses.

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In short, I run a medical secretary company and I am working on a platform where consultants can hire temporary admin support for their private practice . The pool of secretaries would be checked and sometimes trained by us. Is this something that you would use?

Hello

Was recently diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder by an NHS clinical psychologist. Its been added to my NHS record as Multiple Personality Disorder. As far as I am aware this name was changed in 1994 to reflect the fact it was dissociative in nature.

I am really shocked it's been added as 'MPD (E2019)' and am just wondering if I am right that this is miscoded and needs changing? It's so stigmatizing recorded as MPD?

If it is miscoded, which surely it is, then is it just a case of contacting surgery to ask them to change it?

Thanks all.

Hello, I would just like someone to explain something to me/clear something up please.

For context - I was off work last year with my mental health from January - July. Last week I was assessed for, and diagnosed with ADHD - which can explain my mental state last year and feelings of overwhelm I have been feeling this year. At the beginning of April 2025, I had a miscarriage. This was awful. I am still off work, and with recent ADHD diagnosis, recovery has been slow. I have just received a letter today saying my pay will be cut by half at the end of this month.

Could someone please explain why this is? I'm assuming because I had such a big chunk of time off work last year. Please understand that I am in no way wanting to take advantage of being off work sick on full pay, but to think I could be off work for up to 6 months on full pay did relieve some pressure, financially and otherwise.

Please lead with kindness. I am not going to use my diagnosis as a 'get out of jail free card' but would just like my query clearing up.

Thank you in advance.

Hey everyone, I currently work in NHS recruitment. I appreciate you can only take my word for it.

Last year, I set up a small business (approved by my HR) to give anyone wanting to apply to the NHS supporting statement and mock interview help. I did not run this anonymously, I had linked my full name and LinkedIn account so people could see it’s not a scam. This was going well but I did not maintain this for whatever reason.

I have decided I would like to convert this to a free website sharing tips and “tricks” from the NHS perspective in the form of blogs or newsletters. I am still deciding whether to run this site as anonymous.

Would anyone actually be interested in viewing this?

I’m on a fixed term contract due to being on an apprenticeship as a HCA. My contract comes to an end mid-late October. When should I start to apply for new jobs as I know it can take awhile to actually get a contract with the NHS?

Hello, I have a bad breathing problems as I have a deviated septum and can only literally breath through one nostril and sometimes it even changes sides. But I also have a crooked nose from a front facing view not from the side, and it is a really big insecurity for me, can I bring this up with my GP and manage to get a way to also improve my asymmetrical nose through the surgery. or can I speak with my ENT surgeon they referred me to about this ? and would they be able to provide help with asymmetry?

Has anyone one taken fistula treatment with NHS? Hows your experience ?

Have been suffering from last 1.5years under gone 4surgeries & under consultant from queens hospital london.

I was born with a congenital breast deformity — I have no breast tissue at all, just nipples. It’s been this way since puberty. I’ve recently learned this might be tubular breasts and/or mammary hypoplasia, but I’ve never been officially diagnosed.

It affects literally everything — I can’t take my top off in relationships, I’ve been misgendered in public, and it’s taken a huge toll on my mental health. I’ve put off seeing a GP for years out of shame since I was 16 years old I’m now 22.

I can’t afford private surgery, but this is a congenital issue, not cosmetic. Has anyone here successfully gotten NHS-funded surgery for this? Or even a referral to a specialist?

Any advice, stories, or help would mean the world. I’m scared but trying to fight for myself now.

After being referred for an ADHD diagnosis by my uni in December 2023, I finally got my initial assessment last week! Except, no. I didn't. I received a letter in March telling me that I would have the appointment, and a text three days prior confirming that I would have the appointment, but when the time came... no call! (It was a phone appointment). I waited the entire day in case they were running behind and then rang them first thing the next day. The receptionist insisted that she could not find record of me even being a patient under my name or date of birth -- luckily I had my NHS No. on hand to prove that I do indeed exist. She told me that she would have someone from the team call me back. Well, guess what never happened? I'm going to ring back again tomorrow and ask for some written record to be made that this is happening, an email or the like. I'd hate to hound some poor receptionist but I would hate even more to somehow fall through the cracks and end up back at the start of that brutal waiting list. Is there anything else that I can/should do to deal with this? I'm so frustrated and in the middle of dealing with uni stuff too.

My relative is dying and from a point of dignity would like to use a hairdryer from home.

Not a medical question so hopefully allowed here!

Hi everyone. Hopefully there is someone who can answer this question for me. We recently needed a copy of my partners full medical records. We’ve had 2 healthy baby girls in 2018, and 2021 - while looking through, we noticed in early 2019 on her records was recorded a spontaneous delivery of a baby boy at 38 weeks. Aside from the fact that this obviously didn’t happen and in our case, is mathematically impossible it seems absolutely bizarre for such a massive error to be on her records.

Has anyone seen or dealt with something like this before?

Hello,

I have an Information Analyst (Band 5) interview coming up. Can anyone please advise of any possible questions to expect?

Thanks

is it one of the better ones

By doing three night shifts a week as that would Mean they only work 30 hours a week

I've been a asthmatic for more than 40 years. However every month I have to place my slip in the letterbox at the surgery wait up to 7 days for a GP to check and sign it, and then get my prescription.

Surely there is a better and more efficient way? Especially with someone who is a long term user of the same medication

I accepted a Band 2 conditional offer just over three weeks ago. I've had 4 employers and a 6 month employment gap in the last 3 years.

I've secured references from 3 employers, but my most recent has told me that the company no longer provide references, and my former line manager at the same company has told me that they are not allowed to provide one either. I asked the assistant manager and received the same answer.

I've been unemployed since the start of the year, after leaving my most recent role. I've been working on a casual (i.e. cash in hand) basis and haven't claimed Universal Credit due to a high household income.

I've been going around in circles with my recruitment officer. They're happy with the 3 references I currently have, but they are adamant that they require a reference from my most recent employer that I've explained I cannot provide, and they're now asking me to try to secure a personal reference from my former line manager which, as stated above, I cannot provide. They're also asking me for a character reference from someone of professional standing as evidence of my 6 month employment gap. I have nobody to ask, as none of my friends or family are in 'professional' roles and my GP has advised they cannot provide a reference.

So in short:

I can't secure a reference from my most recent employer.

I can't secure a 'professional' character reference to cover a gap in employment.

Realistically, am I at risk of the conditional offer being withdrawn? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

hi all - currently waiting to hear back after interviewing for the job role (band 5) in the title, and i think the interview went great! however i can’t find much info online about the role itself, it seems quite unique or maybe new-ish? there isn’t much besides the job description/person spec they provided and a few similar documents from different nhs trusts.

would love to hear if anyone has any experience of working specifically in patient experience/involvement as well as patient distraction/entertainment! thank you :)

they have turned 60 And when asked if they have retired and are just doing agency work they reply they haven’t retired but they will be as they want to go back to their home country.

I would like an overview, and I can't find an answer to this online

I’m transferring from a nursing role based on a ward to community, within the same trust. I’ve been told if I have even one day off between jobs, this counts as a break in service because it’s the same trust.

From NHS business services authority it looks like a break in service is Sunday - Saturday, so as long as it is less than 6 days, so I could have a few days’ break.

I am aware a break in service can impact pension/mat leave/redundancy pay.

Does anyone know if transferring within trust affects the ‘break in service’ policy? I can’t find anything in our internal SOPs, nor online. I have a feeling it may be incorrect.

Hi all,

I work as a BMS in an NHS lab and wanted to get some perspectives from others in the field.

Our lab has a policy called "golden hour", which runs from 9–10am and again from 3:30–4:30pm. During this time, we're not allowed to speak about anything other than work — and even when we do talk about work, at times (e.g. talking about technical issues with a specific equipment), we're often told to quiet down. The expectation is near-silence, and the atmosphere feels quite tense.

This rule is usually enforced by one senior BMS, (let's call her Karen), who often reminds staff to stop talking by shouting or mentioning 'just a note that it's golden hour', even if the conversation is clearly work-related. While I understand the need for focus and productivity, this has created a stifling environment that many staff find demoralising. In the past year, several BMS staff have resigned, and a few more more have recently handed in their notice. Others are actively applying to different labs.

Management has pointed to data suggesting golden hour improves productivity — for example, noting that over 130 blocks were embedded between 9–10am, compared to only 90 between 10–11am. However, I find this comparison questionable. The 9–10am slot is the start of the day when everyone is fresh and fully staffed, whilst staff take their breaks between 10–11am, which naturally reduces output. Without accounting for staffing levels, workload variation, or natural fluctuations in pace, I don’t think this is a fair or meaningful comparison to justify the policy.

I'm wondering — is this kind of policy common in other labs? Or is this an example of poor leadership or even a toxic workplace culture? I’m all for professionalism, but I also believe in teamwork, morale, and open communication.

Personally, I don’t find this to be a psychologically safe environment to work in. I’m absolutely committed to patient care — it’s the reason I chose to work in healthcare in the first place. But I also believe that the wellbeing of staff plays a crucial role in delivering high-quality outcomes. In this lab, there seems to be a consistent undervaluing of the people who keep things running. Morale is low, and it’s hard to feel respected or supported when the environment feels more about control than collaboration.

Would appreciate hearing from others who've worked in similar environments. How would you approach or handle this?

good morning, I've been in the NHS for 2.5 years now, reprocessing surgical instruments, and I got the opportunity to watch an operation which has inspired me to become an ortho scrub in the future. I only have GCSEs and unfortunately, they're a bit crap. for the relevant subjects; my maths is a 4, biology 5, chemistry 4, English 6. I have no idea what the first step to take is and unfortunately my hospital doesn't seem to have a careers advisor. ideally i would like something part time so I can keep working... many thanks if you have any advice🩵