If you’ve been off sick for more than 7 days

To request a sick note:

• fill out a sick note request form
• phone or visit the surgery from 10am to 6pm

You do not need to book a routine appointment to obtain a fit note.

A Fit Note must be issued by qualified Healthcare Professionals (GPs, Nurses, Pharmacists, Physiotherapists). The fit note means your Healthcare Professional can give you advice to help you return to work. This is because work can play an important part in helping people to recover from illness on injury. The Healthcare Professional can either say you are not fit for work, or can say you may be fit for work. The Healthcare Professional will choose the option for may be fit to work if they think that returning to work – with support from your employer – will help you. 

If you're off work sick for 7 days or less, your employer should not ask for medical evidence that you have been ill. Instead, they can ask you to confirm that you have 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 website.

If you are sick and off work for more than seven days, your employer will normally ask you to provide a fit note from your GP.

When you need a fit note will also depend on your employer's company policy on sick leave (or sickness absence). This policy should tell you how many days you can be off sick before you need a note.

To find out about your employer's policy:

• ask your team leader or supervisor, or
• speak to someone from your human resources (HR) or personnel department

If your fit note runs out, but you are still sick, you will need to request an extension of your fit note by clicking here.

Fit note can be back-dated so it is not necessary to make an emergency appointment to renew your certifiate. If you attend a Rapid Access appointment for the purpose of getting a fit note you will be asked to rebook.