Need a doctor's note for uni

Getting a medical letter for a health-related problem is not a waste of a GP's time.

Yes, I can see what you mean, but surely lots of people don't actually have observable symptoms when in a GP consultation?

Eg a consultation about abdominal pain, the GP can't actually see anything for themselves. Or a consultation about a mental health problem - the person could be completely lying.

Even if the GP spoke to someone when they were having a migraine, how is that any different from taking a history from them afterwards? Is "I have a headache now" any more believable than "I had a headache yesterday"?

I imagine going through the GP would give this more legitimacy to the university, because the GP can listen to the symptoms and is medically trained to interpret them. That is, if the GP is willing to write a note based on a retrospective description.

Sick notes (when not just skiving) are a waste of everyone's time, but if you're going to waste someone's, don't waste the GP's if you can (though if seeing a nurse isn't possible, then by all means).

Nurses cannot issue sick notes as far as I'm aware. I've certainly not met one who can, anyway.

I disagree. Someone who is having a migraine looks and behaves very different to someone who isn't.

I personally would feel uncomfortable writing a retrospective sick note. And I do feel as though it's a waste of resources having to pander to a university that is being awkward rather than treating its stud

A medical letter that says "yes, these are the symptoms of a migraine - if he was having these symptoms, he was probably having a migraine" isn't something that a nurse could easily do, and therefore a waste of 11 years of training?

These 2 doctors seem to disagree with you, and I know other GPs that would say the same.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3021852/Worker-hands-scathing-doctor-s-letter-bosses-slamming-Pizza-Hut-policy-requiring-sick-note-one-day-off.html
http://twentytwowords.com/canadian-doctors-perfect-response-to-employers-who-require-doctors-notes-for-sick-days/

Obviously, if you're genuinely concerned that it could be something more, book an appointment, but if you just need someone to write a letter saying what the symptoms of a migraine are, I think someone with a bachelors is just about qualified.

Sick notes (when not just skiving) are a waste of everyone's time, but if you're going to waste someone's, don't waste the GP's if you can (though if seeing a nurse isn't possible, then by all means).

Are you sure they aren't asking you to fill out a form that is self certifying?

My GP surgery will NOT do retrospective sick notes - they have to have seen you in person whilst you were unwell.

I don't personally think assessing whether someone has had a migraine or not would be a typical thing for a nurse to do? More of a doctor's task I would say - the symptoms could be something else etc etc.

I had a few different GPs write sick notes for uni after the incident, generally if you mention its for uni they will do it for you


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If you approach it right and agree a wording with them then I think its possible and id fancy my chances. bit harder if you havent seen the GP for 5 years.

I got notes from 3 different surgery's one was a new durgery as id just moved to the area


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Were they retropsective notes though?

Yep, all my notes were (i got quite ill in third year and had to apply for extenuating circs a few times after the fact)


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Yes you cna self certify you were ill, but thats for employment law.
You have a problem. How do you know it was a migraine? You havent been to the Drs in 5 years, which presumably means you arent receiving treatment and could be making it up and thye have to believe you retropsectively. I cna imaine a Dr who has never met you will be reluctant, but if you manage it right, then you have a chance.

You need to ask them if they would or could give you a note and then you need to describe the symptoms of the migraine to them so they can at least recognise what you had. Obviously voimiting, pain and incapacitation would be a good start. there is a way they can word it if they are willing. Tbh you should have gone beforehand and also you should have alerted the uni beforehand as retrospectively looks supicious. Think about it and negotiate with them its pot luck whether you get someone sympathetic.

You might as well have a try to get one and if one Dr wont give it you then go to another. 5% is worth fighting for and you could maybe ask for a compromise i.e a chance to sit the exam at a different date. Hopefully you already have good attendance and good grades.

Good luck, but really you should have dragged yourself to the GP before.

How could the OP have known they were going to get a migraine (or any illness for that matter) before hand and go and get a doctors note before the illness occurred? And if they were too ill to go into uni it stands to reason they were likely to ill to go to the doctors just to have it confirmed on paper they are ill. I've had migraines like that, it's not safe to travel in those conditions.

Although I agree they should have emailed their uni before the practical/on the day (if they didn't) to say they wouldn't make it.

But yeah I don't understand what you mean by they should have gone beforehand?

Before the exam or during the attacck. At some stage she/he will have made the choice it was going to be bad and they might not attend. With migraines they arent instant, they build over time till you are un a full blown attack. so there would have been a window in which they could have gone to the GP.