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 £47
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Accepted by most UK employers, universities and insurers, subject to their own policies. All consultations are subject to clinical assessment and certificates are issued only where clinically appropriate.
Receive a full refund if we can't provide a certificate
How It Works
Complete short online consult
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.
✔ Full refund if a certificate cannot be issued.
Receive your certificate
Most certificates are issued same day, almost all by 9AM the next morning. Delivered as a signed PDF. A doctor will email you if more evidence is needed.
Certificate security
Every MedicalCert certificate can be checked as genuine
Each certificate is issued with anti-tampering protection and its own verification reference. If your employer, university, airline or insurer wants to confirm the document came from a GMC-registered doctor, they can check it against MedicalCert records. Altered or copied documents do not pass that check.
Very happy, I ordered my Medical Certificate in the early morning hours and before noon time of same day I had it on my inbox. Speedy service and they present the health condition precisely, get to the point.
They meet the incredibly fast turnaround stated (certificate/letter sent before 9am the following morning if the doctor feels that a letter/certificate is appropriate) which is incredibly quick and I am really grateful for the help provided!
Very easy and quick to get my certificate. And the certificate was approved from the specific company to travel with my dog. I will use them again. Well done.
Second time using this company and they are fabulous! Always great, fast, friendly service. Highly recommend!
This was my second time using Medical Cert, and once again the service was exceptionally quick and professional. Everything was handled efficiently, with clear communication throughout.
I found the service very straight forward and quick. Exactly what I needed to get my Padi medical form signed before our holiday. Thank you very much.
Process was easy and responses were quick. I would recommend their service.
Fast efficient service for medical certificates. I used the not fit to fly service and was provided with a certificate the next day, the price is very reasonable and enabled a flight credit refund with my airline. Would recommend and would use again if needed.
A fast and efficient service. It wasn't complicated and the Fit-to-fly note was accepted by the Airport without any further questions. Thank you.
Ideal for me, I am looking to get a certificate for some medical issues I have. So this is the perfect solution for me, uploading docs was easy and the forms very straightforward to fill in. Will definitely use them again. Many thanks.
Excellent service. Easy to use and certificate issued in less than 24 hours. £39 as opposed to the £150 my GP charges. Highly recommended.
Quick and reasonably pain-free. Received their standard certificate as well as my requested bespoke certificate, by email, by 9am the following morning. Both completed properly, signed and stamped as required. More expensive than my GP, but infinitely quicker and easier.
One of the best experiences. It's easy to get a GP note.
Excellent. My GP refuses to issue DWP MED 3 Fit Notes to students. MedicalCert were excellent and extremely helpful in providing a necessary certificate. Highly recommended.
You were amazing, you kept me updated and replied promptly to any queries I had. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
They helped me, they were very professional and nice.
Very pleased. Quick service with very professional letter provided.
Great service, pretty straight forward and easy to use the website.
I was recommended Medical Cert by a friend and was so impressed with the service received. I would recommend using a laptop rather than a phone. Overall a fantastic and fast service.
Sick Note for Work
If your employer is asking for a sick note, get one today from a GMC-registered UK doctor. Widely accepted by UK employers for absence records and as evidence for 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 on how long you have been off work. UK sick pay rules use a clear 7-day threshold, set out in the Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) Regulations 1985 and explained in plain terms by GOV.UK and ACAS.
The 7-day rule
Absences of 7 calendar days or fewer: you can self-certify. No sick note is required for Statutory Sick Pay purposes. You notify your employer that you are unwell, usually on their own form or HMRC form SC2. All calendar days count toward the seven, including weekends and bank holidays. Our guide to self-certification sick notes covers the full process.
Absences of 8 days or more: your employer can ask for reasonable evidence of your incapacity before they treat the absence as certified or pay Statutory Sick Pay. This is set out in the Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) Regulations 1985 and in GOV.UK guidance on taking sick leave. The regulations do not prescribe a single document, and GOV.UK is explicit that the employer decides what evidence they will accept.
Some employers also require medical evidence for shorter absences, particularly where there is a pattern of frequent short-term sickness. In those situations, including when applying for a sick note for bereavement, a private certificate from MedicalCert may be appropriate even before the 7-day threshold is reached. Confirm with your employer first.
How to get a sick note for work online
You can get a sick note for work online in around 10 minutes, without a face-to-face GP appointment or any prior medical history with us. A GMC-registered UK doctor reviews your case and issues a signed private certificate, usually the same day.
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 another 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 certificate by email
Most approved certificates are issued same day or by 9AM the 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 private medical document signed by a GMC-registered doctor. GOV.UK makes clear it is the employer's decision what evidence of sickness they accept, so check your employer's absence policy before ordering. Each certificate 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 what appears on the certificate.
Dates and duration
The start date, end date, and recommended total duration of absence, up to 14 days per certificate. Follow-up certificates 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.
Private sick note vs NHS Med3 fit note: what is the difference?
A private certificate and an NHS Med3 fit note are different documents. The Med3 is a prescribed statutory form that can only be issued by an eligible healthcare professional acting in an NHS capacity. A private certificate is medical evidence that an employer may choose to accept. The practical differences are eligibility, speed, and cost.
| Private Sick Note (MedicalCert) | NHS Med3 Fit Note | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | GMC-registered UK GP in private practice | NHS GP, hospital doctor, or other eligible healthcare professional acting in an NHS capacity |
| Accepted for employer absence records | Usually, but at the employer's discretion | Usually, but at the employer's discretion |
| Accepted as SSP evidence | Often, at the employer's discretion under the 1985 Regulations | Accepted as standard evidence of incapacity |
| Valid for ESA or Universal Credit | ✘ No | ✔ Yes |
| Appointment required | No, fully online | Usually yes, face-to-face or telephone |
| Turnaround | Same day in most cases | Depends on GP availability |
| Cost | From £47 | Free on the NHS |
| Verifiable by employer | ✔ Yes, via unique reference number | ✔ Yes, via issuing practice |
What is a fit note and what does it mean for your employer?
Fit note definition
A fit note, formally called a Statement of Fitness for Work or Med3, is a statutory NHS form issued by an eligible healthcare professional confirming that you are either "not fit for work" or "may be fit for work" with specific adjustments. The fit note replaced the old-style sick note in April 2010 under changes introduced by the Department for Work and Pensions. In everyday speech people use "sick note" and "fit note" interchangeably, but only the Med3 is the statutory form.
Where an employee provides a Med3 fit note, it becomes the main medical evidence used to manage the absence. In practice an employer will normally:
Record the absence as medically certified
A fit note is the employee's evidence that the absence is supported by a healthcare professional's assessment. GOV.UK guidance for employers and line managers explains how fit notes are used in absence records.
Pay Statutory Sick Pay where eligible
Evidence of incapacity supports SSP entitlement where the employer has asked for it. From April 2026, SSP is payable from day one at £123.25 per week with no lower earnings threshold.
Consider workplace adjustments
If the fit note states "may be fit for work" with adjustments, the employer should discuss those recommendations with the employee. ACAS guidance confirms employers should explore adjustments before concluding the employee cannot return.
Follow fair absence management procedures
Any capability or attendance management process should follow the ACAS Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures, and dismissal must be fair under the Employment Rights Act 1996.
A MedicalCert certificate is not a Med3. DWP guidance confirms that healthcare professionals working in private practice cannot issue the Med3 form, but may produce other medical evidence which an employer may accept subject to their own agreement. Two consequences follow: a private certificate cannot be used for government benefit applications such as ESA or Universal Credit, and acceptance for workplace purposes is at your employer's discretion rather than automatic.
Has Statutory Sick Pay changed in 2026?
If you are signed off work and your employer accepts your evidence of incapacity, including a sick note for depression or any other condition, you are entitled to SSP provided you meet the eligibility criteria. The April 2026 changes mean most employees now qualify more easily than before.
April 2026 SSP changes in detail
Day-one payment. SSP is now payable from day one of absence. The previous three waiting days have been abolished under the Employment Rights Act 2025. You are paid for every certified qualifying day off, including the first three days.
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. Check GOV.UK for the most current SSP eligibility guidance.
Your employer decides what evidence of sickness they will accept, and that discretion is set out in GOV.UK guidance on taking sick leave. What they cannot do is treat you unfairly once the absence is accepted as certified. They may request a second medical opinion through occupational health, and they may verify a certificate via the GMC register. ACAS guidance confirms that employers must follow a fair process before taking any action related to absence.
How long can a doctor give a sick note for?
There is no legal maximum on how long a doctor can sign you off work. The duration is based on clinical judgement: what your condition is, how it affects your ability to work, and how long recovery is expected to take. GOV.UK guidance for healthcare professionals sets no cap on the total duration of certified sick leave.
Short-term illness
Most certificates for work cover 1 to 14 days. MedicalCert issues certificates for up to 14 days each, with follow-up certificates available if you remain unwell.
Longer-term conditions
An NHS clinician can issue fit notes covering weeks or months at a time. After an initial shorter note, subsequent certificates can cover longer periods, up to three months or more, based on clinical assessment.
Mental health conditions
There is no separate limit for mental health. A doctor can sign you off for depression, anxiety, stress, PTSD, or any other mental health condition for as long as is clinically necessary. The same duration principles apply as for physical conditions.
Ongoing or chronic illness
If your condition is long-term, your doctor will reassess at appropriate intervals and issue successive certificates. There is no cap on the total number of certificates or the total duration of certified absence.
How long can you be off sick before dismissal?
Before considering dismissal on capability grounds, your employer is expected to:
Obtain up-to-date medical evidence
This usually means an occupational health referral or a report from your treating doctor, with your consent. A certificate alone is not grounds for dismissal, but an employer can use it alongside other medical evidence.
Explore reasonable adjustments
Under the Equality Act 2010, if your condition qualifies as a disability, your employer has a duty to make reasonable adjustments. This can include modified duties, altered hours, or a phased return to work.
Follow a fair capability procedure
ACAS guidance expects employers to hold welfare meetings, keep the employee informed, and allow them to be accompanied. Dismissal without a fair process risks being unfair dismissal under the Employment Rights Act 1996.
Consider the prognosis
An employer should consider whether a return to work is likely in a reasonable timeframe. If medical evidence suggests recovery, dismissal is harder to justify. GOV.UK guidance on dismissals due to illness sets out this expectation.
If you are on long-term sick leave and concerned about your job security, seek specific advice from ACAS or Citizens Advice. A continuous record of accepted medical evidence strengthens your position, as it demonstrates the absence was supported throughout.
Can my employer reject a sick note?
Yes, they can. Most employers accept certificates from GMC-registered doctors, but they are not obliged to accept any particular document. GOV.UK is explicit that it is the employer's decision what evidence of sickness they require and what they will accept. That applies whether the evidence comes from an NHS GP, a private practice, or an online service. If your absence policy specifies an NHS fit note, check with HR before you order a private certificate.
What your employer CAN do
- → Decide what evidence of sickness they will accept.
- → 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
- → Withhold SSP where you meet the eligibility conditions and have given the evidence they asked for.
- → Treat you less favourably because of a disability, contrary to the Equality Act 2010.
- → Dismiss you without following a fair capability process.
- → Demand clinical detail beyond what you consent to share.
- → Access your medical records without your consent.
- → Subject you to detriment for raising a statutory right.
If your employer will not accept a private certificate, the practical route is to obtain a Med3 fit note from your NHS GP. If you believe you are being treated unfairly, ACAS provides free guidance on sickness absence and on raising a grievance.
Who can issue a fit note for work?
Med3 fit notes are no longer restricted to doctors. Since 1 July 2022, under the Social Security (Medical Evidence) and Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) (Amendment) Regulations 2022, five professions can certify a Statement of Fitness for Work: doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists, and physiotherapists. In each case the professional must be acting in the relevant NHS capacity.
Doctors
NHS GPs and hospital doctors can issue Med3 fit notes. Doctors in private practice cannot issue the Med3 form, though they can issue private medical certificates.
Nurses
Registered nurses can certify fit notes directly, without a doctor's countersignature, following an assessment of your fitness for work.
Pharmacists
Registered pharmacists can certify fit notes where they have assessed your fitness for work and hold the relevant training, typically within GP or hospital teams.
Physiotherapists and occupational therapists
Registered physiotherapists and occupational therapists can issue fit notes for conditions within their clinical scope, particularly musculoskeletal injuries and workplace rehabilitation.
MedicalCert sits outside this list because it operates privately. Every MedicalCert certificate is issued by a GMC-registered doctor as private medical evidence, which many employers accept for absence records. It is not a Med3 and cannot be used for benefit claims.
Frequently asked questions about sick notes for work
Legislation and guidance referenced on this page
The legal and employment information on this page is drawn from the following authoritative UK sources:
📚 Referenced sources
- 📋 Taking sick leave, GOV.UK: confirms self-certification for the first 7 days and that the employer decides what evidence of sickness they require and accept. gov.uk/taking-sick-leave
- ⚖️ Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) Regulations 1985 (SI 1985/1604): the source of the evidence requirement for SSP after the seventh day of incapacity. legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1985/1604
- ⚖️ Social Security (Medical Evidence) and Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (SI 2022/260): extended fit note certification to nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists, and physiotherapists from 1 July 2022. legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2022/260
- 💰 Statutory Sick Pay, GOV.UK: eligibility, current rate (£123.25 per week from April 2026), and day-one payment following the April 2026 reform. gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay
- 📋 Fit notes (Statement of Fitness for Work), GOV.UK: which healthcare professionals can issue a Med3 and how the form is used. gov.uk/government/collections/fit-note
- 📋 Fit note guidance for employers and line managers, GOV.UK: how employers use fit notes, including adjustment recommendations. gov.uk/fit-note-guidance-for-employers
- 💼 ACAS, sickness absence guidance: employer obligations, employee rights, and fair absence management processes. acas.org.uk/absence-from-work
- 💼 ACAS, fit notes and proof of sickness: when employees need evidence, self-certification, and employer discretion. acas.org.uk/fit-notes-and-proof-of-sickness
- ⚖️ Employment Rights Act 1996: unfair dismissal protections and the fairness requirements that apply to capability dismissals for long-term sickness. legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/18
- ⚖️ Equality Act 2010, GOV.UK: disability as a protected characteristic and the duty to make reasonable adjustments. gov.uk/equality-act-2010-guidance
- ⚖️ Dismissals due to illness, GOV.UK: fair procedure and medical evidence expectations before dismissing for long-term sickness. gov.uk/dismiss-staff
- 🩺 General Medical Council (GMC): registers and regulates all doctors practising in the UK. All MedicalCert reviewing GPs hold active GMC registration, publicly verifiable at gmc-uk.org
Most approved certificates issued same day or by 9AM next morning. Full refund if we cannot issue your certificate.
