Although commonly referred to as a sick note, the official name of the document issued by doctors is a Statement of Fitness for Work, or Fit Note. The statement can say that you are unfit for work for a given period, or that you are fit for work subject to certain changes, such as lighter duties or different hours.  If your employer is unable to accommodate the recommended changes then the note is treated as saying you are unfit for work.

When you work out the number of days that you’ve been sick, you need to count all the days in a row you’ve been sick, including days you don’t normally work such as weekends and bank holidays.

For the first seven days of illness you have to self–certify your illness using an SC2 form. You can obtain this form from your employer or the HMRC website. We are unable to issue sick notes for periods of illness of less than seven days. If your employer or child’s school insists on a doctor’s note then this will be a private service which we make a charge for.  See further information below.

If you’re off work sick for more than seven days your employer may ask you for a Fit Note. The note can be obtained from a healthcare professional who is allowed to sign it. If you have been ill for more than seven days and require a sick note then please use our online request form or call reception.

If you are off work due to a hospital admission, a sick note can be issued by the hospital to cover the period of time you were in the hospital. Once discharged, we can issue any further sick notes, based on your hospital discharge letter.

If your certificate runs out, but you are still sick, you will need to consult the doctor again before you can get a further certificate.

Fit certificates can be back-dated so it is not necessary to make an emergency appointment to renew your certifiate. If you attend an emergency appointment for the purpose of getting a medical certificate you will be asked to rebook.

You do not need to see us again to be signed fit to go back to work.

The fit note does not have an option to say that you’re fit for work. If we want to assess your fitness for work again, we will say this on your fit note.

Some employers have their own policies that require medical evidence that you are fit for work. If this is the case, your employer should help you arrange this privately with a healthcare professional or occupational health specialist. We cannot issue a fit note for this purpose.

There is no charge for providing a fit note if you are off sick for more than seven days.

Some employers may request a fit note even if you are off work for seven days or less. This is a private non-NHS medical certificate.

For sickness of seven days or less, a charge of £20 is payable in order for us to provide a certificate.