You only need a doctor’s note if you are unable to work and are ill for longer than seven calendar days. You can complete an SC2 self-certificate form for shorter periods of illness. These are available from your employer or surgery reception. Please note that your employer has a legal obligation to accept this form of certification. If they insist on a doctor’s certificate this will be a private one at the current private fee rate.
Sick (fit) notes
If you’ve been off sick for more than 7 days
To request a sick note:
- complete an online form
- phone or visit the surgery from 10am to 6pm
If you’ve been off sick for 7 days or less
If you’re off work sick for 7 days or less, your employer should not ask for medical evidence that you’ve been ill. Instead, they can ask you to confirm that you’ve 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.
