Sick Notes

During the first week of illness, sickness absence from work should be covered by a self-certification note. These will be available from your employer.
A doctor will only provide a sick note if the sickness period is over seven calendar days (ie including Saturdays and Sundays) and the patient has consulted the doctor.
A doctor cannot provide a retrospective sick note. (The only time this can occur is if an individual doctor who is being asked to issue a certificate has seen the patient whilst sick.)
Emergency appointments should not be used for requests for sick notes.
If patients attend a hospital and are advised by a doctor not to work, then the hospital doctor should provide a sick note. Please request a sick note at the hospital if this is not the case.

Key Information