Sick notes

• Sickness Certificates

  You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven 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.

  Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'

  The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

  For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced)

• For a first fit note you will require a telephone review with a GP. 
• Any subsequent fit notes can then be requested via reception by calling 01698 748421 however the GP may ask that you book a telephone review if you have not spoken to a GP for sometime.  Fit notes cannot be forward dated

• Evidence that you are sick

  If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

  It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

  You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

  Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'

  The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

  For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced)

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 Inform.