Sickness Certificates

If you are ill and cannot attend work your employer may ask you for a sickness certificate.

You do not normally need a sickness certificate for the first seven days of illness. The Statutory Sick Pay Regulations state that employers are required to accept self-certification notes (filled in by you) for the first seven days of illness. All employers must comply with these regulations. To continue to claim Statutory Sick Pay after the first week of illness you will need a doctor's certificate, which will be provided free of charge. To claim other benefits, such as those under private insurance scheme, you will need to bring the appropriate form for us to fill in.

In summary:

• 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 for work).
   
• For the NEXT THREE DAYS (including Saturdays and Sundays) you must fill in a self-certificate form, (SC2)which is available from your employer or from the surgery or you can download it here
  Download SC2 form
   
• After the FIRST SEVEN DAYS you will need a doctor's certificate and will need to attend the surgery to get a Department of Social Security sick note either a 'Med 3' or 'Med 5'.

Further Information

Do I 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 a doctor. It can be difficult for your doctor to judge whether or not you are incapable of reporting for work. . In general, The Department of Health and Social Security, employers, doctors and patients do not recommend that you attend your doctor for certification alone. Your GP is required to issue a certificate only if your absence from work through sickness lasts more than seven days.

What are private sick notes and do I need one?

Some employers or insurance schemes may ask you to provide a private sick note. This is a non NHS service and most surgeries will charge a fee for doing this.

In order to avoid you having to pay for such a service we can provide you with an explanatory letter to employers explaining this. If your employer wants to write to us we are happy to write back but will charge them for doing so.

If you still require a private sick note, there will be a charge of £15. 

Please note, we are unable to date any sick note for a period before you were seen.

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