If you’ve been off sick for more than 7 days
If you have been ill for more than 7 days (including weekends) you will need a doctor’s certificate.
It is not normally necessary to see a doctor before your return to work at the end of the sickness period and you can go back to work sooner if you feel well enough and have informed your employer.
Sick notes can be backdated so any time off will be accounted for.
To request a sick note:
- fill out a first sick note request form if you have not yet had a sick note for this absence
- fill out an additional sick note request form if you have already had a sick note for this absence
- phone us on 0161 881 4545 or visit the surgery from 10am to 6pm
- contact the doctor responsible for your care if the sick (fit) note is related to a hospital procedure such as an operation as hospital doctors are required to provide sick notes in this instance
The doctor may call you or arrange for an appointment.
If the doctor has enough information to issue a sick note, we will try to have this ready for collection within 2 working days.
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.
Find out more about sick notes on the NHS website.
If your employer insists on a note before the end of the 7 day period, this will be chargeable as a medical report. Please ask them to contact the surgery with their requirements for an estimate of fee.
The doctor may call you or arrange for an appointment to discuss further, otherwise please allow 7 days for your request to be processed.
If you require a fit note related to a hospital procedure such as an operation, please contact the doctor responsible for your care. Hospital doctors are contractually required to provide Fit Notes this instance and the Practice will not be able to issue one.