Medical Certificates (Sick Line/Med3/Fit Note)
You do not require a Doctor’s medical certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less.
Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.
Requesting a Medical Certificate
If you are unfit for work for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of statutory sick pay.
It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work.
A medical certificate, now called a ‘Statement of Fitness for Work’ is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.
You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a GP, e.g. a Dentist.
For a sick line to be issued by us, you must have spoken or been seen by a GP. For an extension on your sick line, you may not need to be seen again. Please ask the receptionist for more details.
Statement of Fitness for Work – Fit Note
The ‘fit note’ was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer’s support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.
For more information see the Direct Gov website.