Sick/Fit Note Certificates
Non-urgent advice: FIT Notes/Sick Notes
Understanding Fit Notes
What is a Fit Note?
A Fit Note (sometimes called a "sick note" or "Statement of Fitness for Work") is a medical certificate completed by a healthcare professional. It provides advice about whether you are fit for work following an illness, injury, or health condition.
Fit notes help employers and employees discuss what support may be needed to enable a safe return to work.
You only need a fit note if you have been off work for more than 7 calendar days (including weekends and bank holidays). For the first 7 days, you can usually self-certify your sickness with your employer.
What is a "May Be Fit for Work" Note?
A healthcare professional may decide that, although you are not currently able to do your usual job in the usual way, you could return to work if certain adjustments are made.
In this case, your fit note will state:
"May be fit for work taking account of the following advice."
The healthcare professional may recommend:
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A phased return to work
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Altered hours
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Amended duties
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Workplace adaptations
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Other specific adjustments related to your condition
Your employer should consider whether these adjustments can be made. If they cannot be accommodated, the fit note should be treated as though it says "Not fit for work."
What Does "Not Fit for Work" Mean?
If your healthcare professional believes you are currently unable to work because of your health condition, they will issue a fit note stating:
"Not fit for work."
This means you should focus on recovery until you are well enough to return to work or be reassessed.
How Does a Fit Note Work?
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You discuss your health condition with a healthcare professional.
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They assess how your condition affects your ability to work.
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If appropriate, they issue a fit note.
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You provide the fit note to your employer.
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You and your employer discuss any recommendations and possible workplace adjustments.
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You return to work when appropriate and safe to do so.
When Will a Fit Note Be Issued?
A fit note may be issued when:
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You have a physical or mental health condition that affects your ability to work.
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You have been, or are expected to be, absent from work for more than 7 calendar days.
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A healthcare professional feels medical evidence is needed to support your absence or return to work.
Fit notes can be issued following an assessment by a GP, hospital doctor, nurse, occupational therapist, pharmacist, physiotherapist, or other authorised healthcare professional.
What Information Is Included on a Fit Note?
A fit note may include:
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The date it was issued
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The health condition affecting your fitness for work
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Whether you are:
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Not fit for work, or
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May be fit for work with adjustments
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Advice about workplace adjustments
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The period covered by the fit note
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The healthcare professional's details
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I return to work before my fit note expires?
Yes. A fit note is advice, not a requirement to stay off work for the full period. If you feel well enough and your employer agrees, you can return earlier.
Do I need a fit note for the first 7 days of sickness?
No. Most employers accept self-certification for the first 7 calendar days.
Can my employer refuse a fit note?
Employers should accept fit notes as medical evidence. If adjustments are recommended, employers should discuss these with you and consider what is reasonably possible.
Can fit notes be issued for mental health conditions?
Yes. Fit notes can be issued for both physical and mental health conditions. However, recent evidence shows that when someone is dealing with mental health issues, it is sometimes in your best interest to stay in work. Staying off work for long periods of time can also have a detrimental effect on your long term mental health and can make returing to work much harder.
Self Certification Forms
Your employer 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.
Self-certification forms usually include details such as:
- information about your sickness or illness
- the date your sickness started
- the date your sickness ended
These dates may be days that you don't normally work. For example, your sickness could start or end on a Saturday, Sunday or bank holiday.
Many employers have their own self-certification forms. If your employer doesn't have their own form, instead they may use an SC2 form from HM Revenue & Customs Employee's Statement of Sickness found below:
Sickness of more than seven days
If you are sick and off work for more than seven days, your employer will normally ask you to provide a medical certificate from your GP.
When you need a certificate will also depend on your employer's company policy on sick leave (or sickness absence). This policy should tell you how many days you can be off sick before you need a note.
To find out about your employer's policy:
- ask your team leader or supervisor, or
- speak to someone from your human resources (HR) or personnel department
FIT Notes - After Self Certification for 7 Days
If you require a FIT note and have self certified then you will need to book a routine appointment with the doctor to discuss.
Sick notes and how to get one
A medical certificate note must be signed by a doctor.
Fit notes are also sometimes called doctor's notes, sick notes, medical certificates or doctor's statements.
If you have seen a doctor at the practice regarding the problem you need a medical certificate for (or we have received a letter from the hospital about your sickness) you can call the surgery and request a sick note.
If you have not seen a doctor at the practice and we have had no information from a medical professional about your illness, you will not be able to get a certificate without an appointment. Please book a routine appointment; urgent appointments are only provided for genuine medical emergencies and not for the purpose of certificates.
In either case there are rules governing the issue of sick certificates and the GP may not be able to supply one, depending on the information you provide.
If you are under the care of a hospital, your certificate may be issued by the hospital, rather than by the practice.
When you sick note runs out
If your certificate runs out, but you are still sick, you may need to consult the doctor again before you can get a further certificate.
Fit certificates can be back-dated so it is not necessary to make an emergency appointment to renew your certifiate.
Page created: 15 February 2021
