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'.

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