Self Certification
You do not require a doctor’s sickness 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.
Evidence that you are sick
If you are sick for more than 7 days, your employer can ask you to give them some medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).
It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, is now called a ‘Statement of Fitness for Work’.
Statement of Fitness for Work – ’Fit Note’
The new ‘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.
Getting a new Fit Note
To obtain a new or first fit note for an illness ring the surgery during opening hours and speak to one of the receptionists. They will ask some questions and you may need a face to face or telephone appointment with one of the doctors to discuss your illness. Your GP can also fill in a Fit Note with written evidence from another health care practitioner – e.g. after an operation and in these cases an appointment is often not needed.