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If you are too ill to work, you may need a medical certificate from a doctor to give to your employer. This is officially called a “Statement of Fitness for Work” or a “fit note,” but it is most commonly known as a sick note.
You only need a GP sick note if you have been off work sick for more than 7 days in a row (including non-working days). You can easily request a sick note via an online GP consultation form. The GP will review your request and can email or text the digital certificate directly to you.
Many patients mistakenly book a GP appointment on their third or fourth day of illness to get a sick note. You do not need to do this.
For the first 7 days of illness, you must “self-certify.” This means you tell your employer you are sick. Your employer will usually provide their own form for you to fill out, or you can download a standard self-certification form from the HMRC website. A GP will usually refuse to issue a sick note for the first 7 days of an illness.
If you have been sick for more than 7 days, here is how to get your fit note without visiting the surgery:
If you have been off work for more than 7 days, an NHS sick note is free. If your employer insists on a doctor’s note for an illness lasting less than 7 days, this is considered a private service, and the GP practice will charge a fee.
Yes. If you could not speak to a GP exactly on day 8 of your illness, a doctor can backdate the fit note, provided there is a clear medical record or evidence of your illness starting earlier.
Absolutely. GPs frequently issue fit notes for stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout. Read more about NHS GP mental health support.
At GP Pathfinder Clinics, we process administrative requests like sick notes incredibly efficiently through our digital portal. You don’t need to waste time sitting in a waiting room when you are unwell. Just submit your request online, and our clinical team will handle the rest.
Need a sick note fast? Register online and use our digital services.
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GP Pathfinder Clinics is one of London’s largest NHS GP practices, serving over 100,000 patients. Register online today — it’s free, quick, and you can do it from home.