Sick (fit) notes

If you’ve been off sick for more than 7 days

If you have been ill for more than 7 days you will need a doctors certificate. These certificates are called ‘sick notes’. If this is your first sick note, you will require an appointment with a GP.

To request a sick note:

If you need to extend your existing sick (fit) note

To request an addiitonal sick note:

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.

Some employers insist on a Doctor’s note regardless. A doctor’s note under these circumstances may involve a charge.

Find out more about sick notes on the NHS website.