Birtley Medical Group > Services > Forms > Sick Note

Sick Note

Get a sick note

If you’ve been off sick for more than 7 days

To request a sick note:

  • fill out a sick note request form
  • phone or visit the surgery during surgery hours
Complete an online request form

Non-urgent advice: Who can Sign a Sick/Fit Note?

From July 2022, fit notes can be certified and issued by nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists and physiotherapists, as well as doctors, and no longer require to be signed.

Sick notes can only be issued when they are due, although they can be back dated they cannot be future dated. Please do not request emergency appointments for a Sick/Fit Note.

If you have been sick for more than four days in a row, but less than seven, you can self–certify your illness using a SC2 form. You can obtain this form from your employer or the HMRC website. If you are unwell for more than four days you are advised to contact the surgery to assess your fitness to work.

If you’re off work sick for more than seven days your employer will normally ask for a Fit Note (or Statement of Fitness for Work) from your GP or Hospital Doctor.

When you work out the number of days that you’ve been sick, you need to count all the days in a row you’ve been sick, including days you don’t normally work such as weekends and bank holidays.

The Doctor will provide you with a Statement of Fitness for Work (‘Fit Note’) if you are still not well enough to work. Your employer will most likely request this statement as evidence to support payment of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).

Further information is available at the Direct.Gov website.

The NHS Information website provides further details about Sick or Fit Notes.

If you or your employer require further information concerning your period(s) of illness , then your Doctor may require to issue you with a letter. Please note that a charge may apply for this service. Please check with our Reception Desk.