Get a Sick Note Online from Registered UK Doctors
Apply online anytime, no appointment needed.
Get a valid, confidential sick note from a UK registered GP, suitable for work, university, travel, or recovery needs.
Complete a quick online consultation detailing your condition, upload a short video or medical evidence, and receive your signed certificate by email before 9 AM next day. Professional, trusted, and convenient. For just £47.
✓ Most sick notes are sent same day, with delivery by 9AM the next-morning.
LET'S GET STARTED 
Get your medical certificate delivered straight to your inbox from £37
How It Works
Complete a short online questionnaire
No appointment required — complete a short medical questionnaire and upload any supporting evidence.
Doctor reviews your evidence
A GMC-registered doctor reviews your submission. If a certificate cannot be issued, you’ll receive a full refund.
Receive your certificate
Your certificate arrives same day or by 9am next day — delivered as a signed PDF direct to your inbox.
What our patients say
Verified reviews from real MedicalCert patients
Verified Patient
May 2025
Request at 10pm, certificate by 9am
Excellent service. Request was made at 10pm and turned around by 9am the next day. Very well written using the information provided.
Verified Patient
June 2025
Updated certificate sent free of charge
Amazing experience — got what I asked for in a short period of time, then they sent me an updated one with dates provided free of charge.
Marcus T.
January 2025
Sick note for work — professional and fast
My GP had a 3-week wait. MedicalCert issued a sick note within a few hours. The doctor was thorough, and my employer accepted it without question. Exactly what I needed.
Get a Sick Note Online in the UK
A sick note online — officially called a fit note or Statement of Fitness for Work, and commonly known as a doctor’s note — is a medical certificate issued by a GMC-registered doctor following clinical review of your symptoms. It confirms your illness affects your ability to work and is accepted by UK employers, universities, and institutions.
If you need to know how to get a sick note or how to get a doctors note without a GP appointment, MedicalCert lets you get a doctors note online following a fully online consultation. No waiting room, no commute — complete a short questionnaire, upload brief evidence, and receive your signed certificate direct to your inbox.
Clinically assessed
Issued only if appropriate following review by a GMC-registered GP.
Delivered to your inbox
Same day or by 9AM next morning as a signed PDF you can forward directly.
Verifiable by your employer
Each certificate carries a unique reference code, verifiable at verify@medicalcert.co.uk.
Do You Need a Sick Note? The 7-Day Rule Explained
Whether you need a formal sick note — or how to get a sick note at all — depends entirely on how long you have been off work.
UK sick note rules at a glance
All calendar days count toward the seven days (7 days), including weekends and bank holidays — not just working days. This rule is set by GOV.UK and confirmed by ACAS.
Self-certification only
You do not need a sick note from a doctor. Simply inform your employer you are unwell — in writing, by email, or using a self-certification form. You are still entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if you meet eligibility criteria.
Sick note required
Your employer can ask for a fit note from a registered healthcare professional. This is where MedicalCert’s online sick note UK service applies — receive documentation the same day without visiting a clinic.
What Does a Sick Note Include?
Understanding what a doctors note online actually says helps you know what to expect and what your employer will receive. A sick note issued by MedicalCert will include:
Your name and date of birth
Full patient identification as provided in your consultation.
Your medical condition
The nature of your illness or injury, described at the level of detail clinically appropriate.
Duration of absence
The start date, end date, and recommended time off — up to 14 days per note, extendable if required.
Fitness assessment
Whether you are “not fit for work” or “may be fit for work” with adjustments — see below.
Recommended workplace adjustments
Where appropriate, the doctor may recommend phased return, reduced hours, or modified duties.
Issuing doctor’s details
Full name, GMC registration number, and signature — confirming legitimacy for any employer or institution.
Unique reference number
Allows your employer to verify authenticity directly with MedicalCert at no charge.
Issue date
The date on which the doctor reviewed your case and signed the certificate.
Not fit for work vs may be fit for work
A sick note will state one of two assessments. The doctor chooses based on your clinical presentation:
Not fit for work
The doctor considers you unable to carry out your duties in any capacity. Your employer should not require you to attend work. This is the standard outcome for most sick notes.
May be fit for work
You could return to work if your employer can make reasonable adjustments — for example, reduced hours, different tasks, or working from home. If adjustments are not possible, the note is treated as “not fit for work.”
Conditions We Can Issue a Sick Note For
Our GMC-registered doctors can assess and — where clinically appropriate — issue a sick note online for a wide range of conditions. All cases are reviewed individually; a certificate is issued only where the clinical evidence supports it.
Respiratory illnessFlu, colds, bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, and similar acute infections.
Mental health conditionsStress, anxiety, depression, burnout, and PTSD — all are clinically valid reasons for time off work.
Musculoskeletal injuriesBack pain, sprains, strains, and joint injuries that prevent normal duties.
Chronic condition flare-upsMigraines, asthma, arthritis, IBS, and similar conditions that intermittently worsen.
Post-operative recoveryFollowing surgery where medical evidence of the procedure can be provided.
Gastrointestinal illnessGastroenteritis, food poisoning, and other acute abdominal conditions.
Fatigue and exhaustionIncluding post-viral fatigue and medically recognised exhaustion states.
Accidents and injuriesSoft tissue injuries, cuts, contusions, and fractures supported by evidence.
Private Sick Note vs NHS Fit Note — What’s the Difference?
One of the most common questions when people search for a sick note online UK is whether a private certificate carries the same weight as one from their NHS GP. Here is a clear comparison.
🏥 NHS Fit Note (Med3)
- ✔ Free when off work 8+ days
- ✔ Required for DWP benefit claims (ESA, Universal Credit)
- ✗ GP appointment required — often 2–3 week wait
- ✗ Not available for absences under 8 days
- ✗ Cannot be issued same day online
💻 MedicalCert Private Sick Note
- ✔ Issued same day or by 9AM next morning
- ✔ No appointment — fully online consultation
- ✔ Accepted by employers, universities and institutions
- ✔ Available for any duration, including under 7 days
- ✗ Not valid for DWP benefit or immigration purposes
Important: MedicalCert issues private medical certificates, not NHS Med3 Fit Notes. For most workplace and university purposes, our certificates are accepted without issue. If you are applying for government benefits such as ESA, you will need a free NHS Fit Note from your registered GP.
Will My Employer Accept an Online Sick Note?
This is the most important question for anyone considering a private online sick note UK service. The short answer: yes — provided the certificate is issued by a registered healthcare professional, UK employers are legally obliged to accept it.
Each MedicalCert certificate includes a unique reference number. If your employer wishes to confirm authenticity, they can email verify@medicalcert.co.uk and we will verify the document free of charge. All our doctors are fully registered with the General Medical Council — verifiable on the GMC register.
In rare cases, some employers have internal policies that express a preference for NHS Fit Notes. We recommend checking your employment contract or HR policy if you are unsure. For the vast majority of UK workplaces — including large organisations — our certificates are accepted without question.
Can You Get a Backdated Sick Note Online?
Yes — MedicalCert can issue a backdated sick note in appropriate circumstances, subject to clinical review and supporting evidence. Many of our patients submit requests after returning to work and needing to document an illness that has already passed.
Backdating is considered on a case-by-case basis. To support a backdated request, you will typically need to provide:
- Evidence of when you became unwell — for example a pharmacy receipt, a previous prescription, or a message to your employer reporting absence.
- A description of your symptoms during the period in question, completed via our online questionnaire.
- Confirmation the illness has now resolved — backdated notes cover a period of past illness, not ongoing symptoms requiring a current assessment.
- GP review — the doctor will assess all evidence before deciding whether backdating is clinically appropriate. Requests may be declined if evidence is insufficient.
Backdated sick notes from MedicalCert cover up to 14 days in the past, where evidence supports it.
How Long Can a Sick Note Cover — and Can You Extend It?
Each MedicalCert sick note covers up to 14 days of absence at a time. If you remain unwell when your note expires, you can submit a new request for an extension — your case will be reviewed again by one of our doctors.
How to extend your sick note
Submit a new consultation before your current note expires
Don’t wait until you run out of cover — submit your extension request a day or two before the end date to avoid a gap in documentation.
Describe your ongoing symptoms
The doctor will need to understand why you remain unable to work. Updated evidence of your condition will support your extension request.
Receive your extended certificate
If clinically appropriate, a new certificate will be issued covering the extended period — again delivered to your inbox same day or by 9AM.
Sick Notes, Statutory Sick Pay, and Workplace Adjustments
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
A sick note is often needed to access Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) — the government-mandated minimum sick pay your employer must provide. SSP becomes payable from the fourth consecutive day of illness, and your employer may request medical evidence to process it once you have been off for 8 or more days.
Important: SSP vs private sick pay
MedicalCert private certificates support SSP claims with most employers. However, if you are claiming government benefits such as Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit, you will need an NHS Med3 Fit Note from your registered GP — private certificates are not accepted for these purposes.
Reasonable workplace adjustments
Not every sick note results in full absence. If your doctor considers you may be fit to work with modifications, the certificate can include a recommendation for reasonable adjustments. Common adjustments include:
If your employer cannot accommodate the recommended adjustments, the note is treated as “not fit for work” regardless of its original assessment.
How Much Does an Online Sick Note Cost?
If you have been searching for how much are doctors notes in the UK, here is what to expect across different routes:
Free (if off 8+ days)
NHS fit notes are free for absences over 7 days. However, you will need a GP appointment — often 2–3 weeks wait. Private GP practices may charge £20–£50 for a letter.
From £39
A flat fee covering your full online consultation and issued certificate. No hidden charges, and a full refund is provided if a certificate cannot be issued. Delivered same day.
If your employer has requested a note for an absence of fewer than 7 days, the NHS will not issue one free of charge — a private certificate from MedicalCert is the appropriate route in this case.
How to Get a Sick Note Online with MedicalCert
The process for getting an online doctors note through MedicalCert takes most patients under 10 minutes to complete.
Complete a short medical questionnaire
Tell us about your symptoms, how long you have been unwell, and how your condition affects your ability to work. No appointment is needed — this is done entirely online at any time.
Upload a short video or supporting evidence
A brief 30-second video describing your symptoms, or other relevant medical evidence such as a prescription or discharge letter. This supports the doctor’s clinical assessment.
GMC-registered doctor reviews your case
One of our doctors reviews all submitted evidence the same day. They assess your symptoms, medical history, and impact on your ability to work — exactly as a GP would in clinic.
Receive your certificate — or a full refund
If clinically appropriate, your signed sick note is delivered to your inbox same day or by 9AM next morning as a digital PDF certificate. If the doctor cannot issue a certificate, you receive a full refund — no questions asked.
Sick Note FAQs
Clinically Reviewed By
Dr Maria Knobel
Medical Director, Knobel Health Limited
GMC Registration
► 7495073 – View on GMC register