Meniers sufferer

Catherine wrote:

Hi John.

I wonder why your GP did not give you a back-dated sick-note (I'm sorry i can't bear to call them fit-notes!) - especially as the DWP have admitted an error and stated that your money would be back-dated if there was a sick-note put in place to cover that period?

Obviously it is your choice whether you persue this further with your GP, or as Bro58 suggests, another one in the practice, but it really doesn't seem very helpful and you are losing out financially.

Anyway - good luck with it all and your complaint.

The problem is the doctors practice is run by my doctor,his brother and his son so I feel it would make me very unpopular if I were to ask one of the others for a back-dated cert.I will be loosing about £500 but what can I do.

John

Hmm.

£500 is a lot of money to be missing out on due to a misunderstanding or a pain of a GP (I'm not sure which!).

If you know that one of the other doctors is likely to be more understanding of why a back-dated certificate is so important to you - they may be more than happy to oblige and even take great delight in explaining to their brother/son why they have been more helpful to a vulnerable patient!

It is your call - you have to be happy with what you decide to do and I can understand if you are worried about being unpopular due to your request. (I personally would be really narked by it all and want the matter resolving.)

Best wishes

Hi John,

If there is only the father, brother and son, in your G.P.'s practice, you are in a bit of a dilema.

However, some years ago I was in a 3 G.P. practice, 2 of these being father and son.

I found the son had a very different outlook on things to the father.

Maybe it would be worth trying the other two, just be very tactful, ask questions, such as "can you explain, OR why do you think Dr X won't back date my Med Cert", giving your reasons, and mention how much backdated benefit it could cause you to lose.

It is ludicrous, as Gordon says, it is very common for G.P.'s to back date Med Certs.

Your only other option is to change practice, (geography allowing).

I changed G.P.'s practices 3 times in 4 months, as I was not happy on moving house, it was quite simple.

Just look up a list on the net of G.P.'s in your area, find out which one has vacancies, then simply make an appointment to register, I gave specific reasons for changing, but you can simply say it's personal.

As I have previously said it would be unwise to say anything derogatory to one G.P. about another, even at a different practice.

It obviously depends what other options are open to you, but your present G.P. may cause you problems in the future.

The PCT may try and put you off, as with me, but they can't stop you.

It is, as always your decision to make.

cheers

bro58