If you’ve been off sick for more than 7 days
To request a sick note:
- use the eConsult service
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.
Following Hospital Treatment
For fit notes (sick notes) following treatment at hospital (either outpatient appointment, admission or operation), it is the hospital doctor’s responsibility to provide one to you before you leave. Despite any advice to contact your GP, it is the legal duty of the treating hospital doctor to issue your fit note if needed.
If you have already left the hospital without a fit note, please contact your consultant’s secretary. The hospital is responsible for issuing the first fit note after your attendance. Please ensure that the fit note covers the full required duration; there is no rule limiting hospital fit notes to a maximum of two weeks. If your consultant has recommended a longer period off work, the fit note should reflect this.