From July 2022, fit notes can be certified and issued by nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists and physiotherapists, as well as doctors, and no longer require to be signed.
Sick notes can only be issued when they are due, although they can be back dated they cannot be future dated. Please do not request emergency appointments for a Sick/Fit Note.
Sick/Fit Note request form
Please complete this form to tell us about your illness and we will direct you to the most appropriate form or service.
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 practice 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 speak to the practice. Emergency or urgent appointments should not be used to request Sick / Fit notes.
Self-Certificate
If you have been sick for more than four days in a row, but less than seven, 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’re off work sick for more than seven days your employer will normally ask for a Fit Note (or Statement of Fitness for Work) from your practice or Hospital Doctor.
How to count sick days
When you work out the number of days that you’ve been sick, you need to count all the days in a row you’ve been sick, including days you don’t normally work such as weekends and bank holidays.
Statement of Fitness for Work
An appropriate clinician 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.
Fitness to perform in pantomime
Schools occasionally ask parents to approach their child’s GP for a statement of fitness to perform, in order to be allowed to take part in productions. We wish to make it clear that:
- This does not form part of NHS General Medical Services
- We are not at liberty to vouch for an individual’s fitness to perform any activity without a formal risk assessment process
- If you require such a statement, and your GP is happy to issue one, a private fee of £20 will be incurred
- In that instance, your GP will state that, on the basis of what is currently known, he/she is unaware of any medical reason why “X” should not take part in “Y”
- Please do not make an appointment – requests can be made in writing or by telephoning the practice
- The reception staff will advise you of any applicable charges.
Private Certificates
If you or your employer require further information concerning your period(s) of illness , then your Doctor may require to issue you with a letter. Please note that a charge may apply for this service. Please check with our Reception Desk.