Sick Note for Work
If your employer needs formal absence documentation, our registered UK GPs can review your case online and issue a signed sick note or fit note without the wait.
Every sick note for work is issued following individual clinical review by a licensed UK doctor, making it a legitimate medical document suitable for employer and HR submission.
✔ Signed by a registered UK GP following clinical assessment
✔ Accepted by employers and HR departments across the UK
✔ Most requests reviewed same day, from £39
Let's get started 
Receive a full refund if we can’t provide a certificate
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 individually. No automated approvals.
✔ Full refund if the GP cannot issue.
Receive your certificate
Certificates arrive most same day, all by 9AM next morning, 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.
Sick Note for Work
If your employer is asking for a sick note, get one today from a GMC-registered UK doctor. Accepted by UK employers for absence records and Statutory Sick Pay. No appointment, same day delivery.
When do you need a sick note for work in the UK?
Whether you need a formal sick note depends entirely on how long you have been off work. UK employment law uses a simple 7-day rule, confirmed by GOV.UK and ACAS, that every UK employer must follow.
The 7-day self-certification rule
Absences of 7 calendar days or fewer: you can self-certify. No sick note is required by law. You simply notify your employer that you are unwell, usually via a self-certification form or written statement. All calendar days count toward the seven days, including weekends and bank holidays.
Absences of 8 days or more: your employer can legally require a sick note from a registered healthcare professional before they will accept the absence as certified or pay Statutory Sick Pay.
Some employers also require a sick note for shorter absences, particularly if there is a pattern of frequent short-term sickness. In those situations, including when applying for a sick note for bereavement, a private sick note from MedicalCert is appropriate even before the 7-day threshold has been reached.
How to get a sick note for work online
You do not need a face-to-face GP appointment, a prior medical history with us, or to leave home. You can get a sick note online in around 10 minutes.
Complete the online questionnaire
Describe your symptoms, how long you have been unwell, and how your condition is affecting your ability to work, whether it is a sick note for back pain or any other physical condition. Be as specific as you can about impact on attendance and duties.
Upload photo ID and supporting evidence
A driving licence or passport, plus any existing prescriptions, GP letters, or medical records that strengthen your case. Supporting evidence is not always required but helps the doctor reach a faster decision.
A GMC-registered doctor reviews your case
Every case is individually assessed by a UK GP. No automated approvals. If the doctor cannot issue a certificate based on the clinical evidence, you receive a full refund.
Receive your signed sick note by email
Most certificates are issued the same day. All are delivered by 9AM next morning at the latest, as a signed PDF you can forward straight to HR or your line manager.
What a sick note for work includes
Every certificate is a legally valid private medical document that your employer is required to accept. Each sick note contains:
Personal details
Your full name, date of birth, and address, matching the ID you submitted.
Medical reason for absence
A description of your condition at the clinical level of detail appropriate for your employer, whether a sick note for anxiety or another health condition. You are not required to share a full diagnosis beyond this.
Dates and duration
The start date, end date, and recommended total duration of absence, up to 14 days per certificate. Follow-up notes can extend this.
Fitness for work assessment
Either “not fit for work” or “may be fit for work” with recommended adjustments such as a phased return to work, reduced duties, or remote working.
Doctor’s credentials
The issuing doctor’s full name, GMC registration number, and digital signature. Your employer can verify these on the GMC register at no charge.
Unique reference number
Every certificate carries a unique reference your employer can use for direct verification with MedicalCert.
Sick pay and your rights when you are signed off work
If you are signed off work with a valid sick note, including a sick note for depression, you are entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) provided you meet the eligibility criteria. The UK SSP system changed significantly in April 2026, and most employees now qualify more easily than before.
April 2026 SSP changes you should know
Day one payment. SSP is now payable from day one of absence. The previous three waiting days have been abolished. You are paid for every certified day off, including the first three.
Lower earnings limit removed. The previous minimum weekly earnings threshold has been scrapped. Part-time workers, zero-hours contract workers, and lower earners who previously did not qualify now do.
Current rate. £123.25 per week, or 80% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower. Many employers also offer contractual sick pay above the statutory minimum, set out in your contract or employee handbook.
Your employer cannot refuse to accept a valid sick note from a GMC-registered doctor. They can request a second medical opinion through occupational health, and they can ask for verification of the certificate via the GMC register, but they cannot simply dismiss the certificate or discipline you for taking certified sick leave.
Can my employer reject a sick note?
Under UK employment law, employers are required to accept a valid sick note from a GMC-registered doctor. This applies regardless of whether the note comes from an NHS GP, a private practice, or an online service like MedicalCert. Every certificate is equally valid as medical evidence for workplace absence and SSP purposes.
What your employer CAN do
- → Ask to see the certificate.
- → Verify the doctor’s GMC registration number.
- → Contact MedicalCert to confirm the unique reference.
- → Refer you to occupational health for a second opinion.
- → Conduct a return-to-work interview after your absence.
- → Follow their normal absence management process.
What your employer CANNOT do
- → Refuse to record the absence as certified sick leave.
- → Withhold SSP without a legitimate legal reason.
- → Dismiss or discipline you for certified absence.
- → Demand a detailed diagnosis beyond what is on the note.
- → Override the doctor’s clinical judgement.
- → Insist you attend work despite the certificate.
If an employer attempts to reject a valid sick note, refer them to GOV.UK guidance on fit notes, which confirms that certificates from any GMC-registered doctor must be accepted. Persistent refusal to accept valid medical evidence may amount to unfair treatment under the Employment Rights Act 1996.
Private sick note vs NHS Med3 Fit Note
MedicalCert issues private medical certificates, not NHS Med3 Fit Notes, including a stress leave certificate for stress-related absences. For the overwhelming majority of workplace purposes the two are functionally equivalent, but there are important differences worth understanding.
| Factor | Private sick note | NHS Med3 Fit Note |
|---|---|---|
| Accepted by employers | Yes | Yes |
| Valid for Statutory Sick Pay | Yes | Yes |
| Accepted for ESA and government benefits | No | Yes (required) |
| Cost | From £47 | Free |
| Appointment required | No | Yes (via your NHS GP) |
| Typical delivery time | Same day, all by 9AM next morning | Days to weeks depending on GP availability |
| GMC-registered doctor | Yes | Yes |
Frequently asked questions about sick notes for work
Most same day. All by 9AM next morning. Full refund if we cannot issue your certificate.
Clinically Reviewed By
Dr Maria Knobel
Medical Director, Nobel Medical LLC
GMC Registration
► 7495073 – View on GMC register