A 'Fit for work' certificate (fit note), which replaced the old sickness certificate (sick note), will not be issued 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 by complete online here).
For any illness lasting longer than seven days you will need to see your doctor for them to issue your fit note / sick note. Subsequent renewals may be possible by telephone or can be submitted online via Click here to request a further fit note- your doctor will advise.
For fit notes resulting from a hospital stay, The healthcare professional responsible for your discharge should be the one who issues the fit note if possible, and you should discuss this with them before you are discharged so that you are given an appropriate length of fit note to cover the expected recovery time. We may advise you to get back in touch with the hospital if this is not the case.
HOW CAN I GET A FIT NOTE:
If you need a fit note, contact your GP surgery, or if you are getting hospital treatment, ask for one from your hospital doctor.
Your doctor will assess you and if they decide your health affects your fitness for work they can issue a fit note and advise either that a) you are “not fit for work” or b) you “may be fit for work taking into account the following advice”. Your doctor will choose the “may be fit for work” option if they think that your are able to do some work even if it is not your usual job, with support from your employer. Discuss this advice with your employer to see if you can return to work. For example your doctor may suggest possible changes such as:-
- returning to work gradually – for example by starting part-time
- temporarily working different hours
- performing different duties or tasks
- having other support to do your job, for example if you have back pain, avoiding heavy lifting.
If your employer is unable to accommodate the changes advised by your GP then the fit note is treated as though it said “unfit for work”.
for more information see: https://www.gov.uk/taking-sick-leave