If you're off work for 7 days or less, your employer shouldn't ask you for medical evidence that you've been unwell. They can ask you to confirm that you've been ill and you can do this by filling in a form yourself when you return to work. This is called self-certification. Many employers have their own forms and will ask you to complete a copy when you return to work. Your employer/HR department should be able to answer most questions you may have about Sickness Notes (Fit Notes).
For sicknesses of 4 -7 days in a row you must complete a self-declaration form from the Department of Work and Pensions, found here.
You do not need to see a doctor if you been absent for 7 days or less.
If you're off work for more than 7 days, your employer will usually ask for a Fit Note (or Statement of Fitness for Work) from a GP or hospital doctor. Fit Notes are sometimes also called medical statements or sick notes.
You will require an initial appointment with doctor, which can be completed via telephone, before a Fit Note is provided. You can call us at 08:00 for an 'on the day' appointment. If you have recently been discharged from hospital following an inpatient admission please ask the hospital doctors for a Fit Note prior to being discharged.
Advice on absence in relation to COVID-19 can be found here.
If you have already had a Fit Note for this illness, your doctor may not need to see you to issue an additional note. You will need to request an extension which you can do by phoning either surgery, by sending us an email (see Disclaimer Notice) or by completing an e-consult. Your request will be processed within 48 hours. Please note that we are not able to forward date your Fit note so please don't call until your existing note has expired.
If we are unable to issue you an extension, or if a further review is required, you may be contacted and advised to book an appointment with a doctor to discuss.
General points to note:
You should return to work as soon as you feel well enough and with your employer’s agreement. This may be before your fit note runs out. However, if your doctor has advised that it would be unsafe or bad for your health to return to work, you should take this advice seriously. For some jobs there are separate processes to ensure it is safe for you to return. If so, your employer will tell you.
If your current fit note states that you need a Doctors assessment prior to returning to work then you should arrange this. If your current fit note does not state that you need a Doctors assessment prior to your return then discuss with your employer whether they are happy for you to return earlier than your sick note states. If they are not then please contact the practice.
If the fit note says you ‘may be fit for work’, this means you may be able to return to work with some help from your employer. You should discuss this advice with your employer to see if you can return to work. If you and your employer agree it is not possible for you to return to work until you have recovered further, you do not need to return to your doctor for a new fit note.
Your doctor will say on the fit note whether they need to see you again before you return to work.