Sick (fit) notes

You do not require a doctor’s sickness certificate (MED3 certificate, also called a fit note) for any illness lasting 7 days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Please note

Evidence that you are sick

If you’re sick and off work for more than 7 days, your employer will probably ask for proof of your illness. Most employers ask for a fit note from your GP.

However, this will also depend on your employer’s company policy on sick leave (or sickness absence). This policy should tell you how many days you can be off sick before you need to provide proof of illness or a fit note.

You can also provide evidence from someone who is not a doctor, ie nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists and physiotherapists if they are involved in your care and they are discussing your fitness to work with you.

Please see the government website, for guidance for patients and employees.

Going back to work

You should go back to work as soon as you feel able to and with your employer’s agreement – this may be before your fit note runs out. You do not need to go back to see the doctor/healthcare professional before going back to work. Your healthcare professional cannot give you a fit note stating that you are ‘fit for work’. If your employer wishes to confirm (as far as they are able to) that you are fit to return they would need to engage the services of an Occupational Health team/service at their own expense.

Sick/fit notes for those in education

In general GPs do not provide certificates for children as the parent’s explanation of the absence is generally sufficient for the purposes of the school.

Provision of medical certificates for school children is not part of a GP’s responsibility and a refusal to provide this certification is in accord with the Government policy to reduce GP paperwork and preserve valuable GP time for clinical care.

When a child has missed an exam, the Examination Boards do not require the GP to provide a certificate before special consideration of the case.

In cases where a child has recurrent short term illnesses, this is a matter for very sensitive and expert management by the school in consultation with the parents and the child. In cases where there is more prolonged absence, the problem needs very careful assessment and the school, with appropriate consent, may seek additional medical information directly from the GP.