Statement of Fitness for Work

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.

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 Statement of Fitness for Work (also known as a medical certificate or sick/fit note) 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 fit note from your GP.

Statement of Fitness for Work

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.

If you are unable to work due to illness and need a Statement of Fitness for Work (also known as a medical certificate or sick/fit note), please fill our the below form or call the surgery to request one. Please allow 3 working days for these to be processed.

Please be aware we will not issue a fit note before the first day you will need to be away from work (i.e. pre-date fit notes in advance) except in exceptional circumstances where it will be down to a GP to decide whether or not it is issued.

We can overlap two certificates if necessary and ask that patients only request fit notes near to the time the initial statement will run out, rather than 2-3 weeks in advance.

For more information, see the GOV.UK website (where this information was sourced)