When do I need a fit note?
7 days off sick 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. This is called self-certification and the form can be obtained from your employer or by visiting www.hmrc.gov.uk/forms/sc2.pdf.
More than 7 days off sick
If you’re off work sick for more than 7 days, your employer will usually ask for a fit note (or Statement of Fitness for Work) from a healthcare professional. Fit notes are sometimes referred to as medical statements or a doctor’s note.
How do I get a fit note?
If you need a fit note, contact the healthcare professional treating you. This should be a doctor, nurse, occupational therapist, pharmacist or physiotherapist.
Your healthcare professional will assess you, and if they decide your health affects your fitness for work, they can issue a fit note and advise either that:
- you are “not fit for work”
- you “may be fit for work taking into account the following advice”
Your healthcare professional will choose the “may be fit for work” option if they think that you are able to do some work, even if it is not your usual job, with support from your employer.
Discuss this advice with your employer to see if you can return to work. For example, the healthcare professional treating you may suggest possible changes, such as:
- returning to work gradually, for example, by starting part time
- temporarily working different hours
- performing different duties or tasks
- having other support to do your job. For example, if you have back pain, avoiding heavy lifting
If your employer is unable to accommodate the changes advised by a healthcare professional, then the fit note is treated as though it said “unfit for work”.
Fit notes can be obtained during a face to face, telephone or online consultation. All fit notes can be requested via calling the Surgery on 01507 603121 or using the online system.
For further information Go to the NHS webpage: When do I need a sick note?
