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, your GP can issue a Sick Note, based on your Hospital discharge letter. If you think this is your situation, our Reception Team will assist you.
Please note a Sick or Fit Note can be backdated; please discuss this when you see your GP. Emergency or urgent appointments should not be used to request Sick / Fit notes.
Self-Certificate
If you have been sick for more than 4 days in a row, but less than 7, you can self–certify your illness using a SC2 form. You can obtain this form from your employer or the HMRC website. If you are unwell for more than four days you are advised to contact the surgery to assess your fitness to work.
More than seven days off sick
If you are off work sick for more than 7 days your employer will normally ask for a Fit Note (or Statement of Fitness for Work) from your GP or Hospital Doctor.
How to count sick days
When you work out the number of days that you have been sick, you need to count all the days in a row you have been sick, including days you do not normally work such as weekends and bank holidays.
Statement of Fitness for Work
The Doctor will provide you with a Statement of Fitness for Work (‘Fit Note’) if you are still not well enough to work. Your employer will most likely request this statement as evidence to support payment of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).
Further information is available at the Direct.Gov website.
When do I need a Fit Note?
The NHS Information website provides further details about Sick or Fit Notes.
Fit Notes – What I need to know
Fit for Work
Fit for Work can help supplement the advice an employee receives from their employer’s occupational health provider or through their own private insurance. It can also be used to supplement employers’ sickness absence policies and procedures.
Further Information about Fit for Work
Private Certificates
If you require a sickness certificate from the GP for the first week of your illness, we can provide this as a private service, for which there will be a charge. Please check with our Reception Desk.