ESA claim

Hi

Please could you let me know firstly if it is only a GP that can issue a fit note, I assume it is. (I mean for example I assume a psychiatrist cannot do fit notes?)

Also, can fit notes overlap. For example if a fit note expired on 10th of January, could you see/telephone your GP on the 3rd January and have a new fit note start from the 3rd?

My surgery said a fit note cannot be written in advance as in your example. But that is what I need. I normally get my fit notes by posting a letter request and enclosing a stamped addressed envelope for the fit note to be sent to me. Once before, this process took about 4 weeks hence why I am trying to work out the best route to take now. So I could send the letter in requesting a fit note a couple of weeks before the old one expires(the 10th), asking for it to be dated from the 11th ?

Have spoken to my surgery again, this time they said I can ask in advance but am not allowed to collect it until the date it starts from. So I could ask for it on the 8th to be written starting from the 11th but they say it cannot be collected from the surgery until the 11th. Is that a rule that you cannot collect it until the date it starts from? Or just a receptionist 's opinion do you think?