If you’ve been off sick for more than 7 days
To request a sick note:
- fill out a sick note request form
- Please note urgent appointments are only provided for genuine medical emergencies and not to provide sick notes. It is possible for a sick note to be back dated so you do not need to be seen urgently or on the day that your note expires.
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.
However some employers insist on a doctor’s note regardless. A doctor’s note under these circumstances may involve a charge.
When you sick (fit) note runs out
If your sick note runs out, but you are still sick, you will need to consult the healthcare professional again before you can get a further note. Sick notes can be back dated so it is not necessary to make an emergency appointment to renew your certificate.
Find out more about sick notes on the NHS website.