Sick Note

Less than 7 Days
If your off work for 7 days or less, your employer should not ask for medical evidence that you`ve been ill. Instead they can ask you to confirm that you have been ill. You can do this by filling in a self certification form when you return to work.

Some employers may request a fit note (e.g. from employees who repeatedly take time off sick) even if they are off work for seven days or less. This is a private non-NHS medical certificate and is chargeable at some cost. Please speak with reception if you need one.

If your note is for the Job Centre to assist with your benefits, please speak to reception as it may not be necessary that you have an appointment to request a continuous note.

More than 7 days
If you’re off work sick for more than 7 days, your employer will usually ask for a fit note (or Statement of Fitness for Work) from a healthcare professional. Fit notes are sometimes referred to as sick notes, MED3 or a doctor’s note.

If you have seen a clinician at the practice regarding the problem you need a medical certificate for, you may not need to see the clinician again. You can request a fit note through our online app. The clinician may be able to speak to you on the telephone depending on how well they know you and why you are off work sick.

If you have not seen a clinician at the practice and we have had no information from a medical professional about your illness, you will not be able to get a certificate without an appointment. Please book a routine appointment through our online app or calling reception. Urgent appointments are only provided for genuine medical emergencies and not for the purpose of certificates.

In either case there are rules governing the issue of sick certificates and the GP may not be able to supply one, depending on the information you provide.

Please note: GPs can not give you a Med3 for a period of time when you have not been seen by said GP, nor will GPs back date Med3 to cover a period of illness that you have not been consulted for.