Sick Notes

Billy has just been to see me.

He is 32 and fell off a ladder, breaking his ankle. He is now in a plaster cast, and using crutches. He was reviewed in the fracture clinic, who advised him he would need time off work. He was then advised to come and see his GP to get a sick note.

The question is why? There is no reason why the Dr seeing him in the fracture clinic couldn't do one for him. Having assessed the severity of things he is in a much better place to know how much time Billy will need off.

Instead Billy has had to waste his time by making a further appointment with me. I could have refused to do it, and sent him back to the hospital to get one, but the only person who would have lost out would have been Billy.

I wish this was a one off. But it's an all too regular occurrence, and a sad reflection of one of the many inefficiencies of the NHS.