If you’ve been off sick for 7 days or less
If you’re off work sick 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’ve been ill. You can do this by filling in a form yourself when you return to work. We call this self-certification.
Find out more about sick notes on the NHS website.
A fit note is a medical document issued following a clinical assessment. The clinician issuing the fit note will decide whether a fit note is appropriate and, if so, the period of time it should cover.
Patients cannot request a particular duration of fit note. For example, if a clinician has assessed that a fit note should be issued for one week, we will not routinely change this to four weeks simply because a longer period has subsequently been requested.
If you remain unwell when your fit note expires, you can request a further clinical review. A further fit note may then be issued if this is considered medically appropriate.
Please also be aware:
- Your employer cannot require a GP to issue a fit note for the first 7 days of illness. During this period you can self-certify your absence from work.
- The start date, duration and advice included on a fit note are determined by the healthcare professional completing it.
- Fit notes will not routinely be amended solely to meet an employer’s preferred dates or administrative requirements.
- A request for a fit note does not automatically mean that one will be issued.
- If you have not been clinically assessed by one of our clinicians during an episode of sickness then we are unable to issue a fit note.
- If you were seen by the hospital and advised you are not fit to work, you will need to approach the hospital directly for a fit note.
- We do not complete fit notes to say your are fit to return to work, unless this is an agreed plan for a phased return.
- We appreciate that being unable to work can be stressful. Our clinicians will consider your individual circumstances and provide appropriate advice about your fitness for work. We ask patients and employers to respect their clinical judgement regarding the duration and content of fit notes.
To request a sick note: use our online service