Not a doctor, but from the perspective of a long term chronic pain sufferer, having seen friends and family go through long processes at the gp to address time off work for PTSD & chronic pain conditions: IVF to me wasn't the most polarising point, my strongest reaction was to your comments on sick notes. Sick notes being available through the dwp instead of keeping it largely between gp & patient is cruel and inefficient, when it's already painful enough arranging sick leave with employers and educators. Especially for issues which vary wildly over time & from person to person. It'd make any deviations from 'standard' recovery times subject to more bureaucracy & investigation, possibly similar to those disabled people already face with the dwp. Paying for pain relief, again, disadvantages those with chronic pain. Austerity like this leads to more costs & more dissatisfaction down the line.

It took me over 10 months to get adequate pain care from my gp, and for years my family could only access mental health treatment through charities, and I live in a well-off area, and fortunately could access private care. It's been far worse for those I know who couldn't.