News:
SICK NOTES OR MEDICAL CERTIFICATES
 
Information for patients and their employers
 
Do you need a doctor's certificate in the first seven days of an illness?
No, illnesses that last less than one week are usually minor and self-limiting and you may not require a visit to the doctor. It can be difficult for your doctor to judge whether or not you are incapable of working in this situation. The certificate only indicates that you attended the surgery on a specific date complaining that you had a minor illness.
In general, the Department of Health and Social Security, employers and doctors do not recommend that you attend your doctor for sickness certification alone.  Your GP is only required to issue a certificate if your absence from work through sickness lasts more than seven days.

What do you need?
For the FIRST FOUR DAYS of any illness you do not require any form of certification. (It is for you to decide if you are fit to work).

For the NEXT THREE DAYS (including Saturdays and Sundays) you must fill in a self-certification form (available from your employer).

After the FIRST SEVEN DAYS you will need a doctor's certificate and will have to attend the doctor to get a Department of Social Security sicknote, either a 'Med 3' or 'Med 5'.

What are private sick notes?
Some employers or insurance schemes will ask you to provide a private sicknote.  The surgery will charge you a £10 fee to provide you with a private 'sick note'.



Appointments
Home Visits & Telephone Consultations
Test Results

Appointments

appointmentsYou can contact the reception after 9.00 to make an appointment. When booking an appointment please try to see your usual doctor, or if it is a follow up about a previous problem then try to see the doctor who discussed this problem with you before.

You will be offered an appointment within 2 working days.  If appropriate, you may be offered a pre-booked telephone consultation with your usual doctor.  If you have an urgent problem you will be seen on the day, but please ring for an appointment time.  

You will still be able to pre-book an appointment up to two months in advance with your usual doctor.  The practice nurses provide a wide range of services, reception staff will advise you whether your appointment should be with the doctor or the nurse.  Please book one appointment for each person that needs to be seen.  Please cancel your appointment if it is no longer needed.

If you arrive late for an appointment you may not be seen. 

Extended Hours

We also offer pre-bookable appointments on Monday and Tuesday evenings from 18:30 - 19:40 and on Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 07:20 - 07:50.