Sick Note for Work
If your employer needs formal absence documentation, our registered UK GPs can review your case online and issue a signed private medical certificate 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 doctor following clinical assessment
✔ Widely accepted by employers and HR departments across the UK
✔ Every request reviewed by a registered UK doctor, from £47
Let's get started 
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.
You can get a sick note for work online from a GMC-registered UK doctor, without a GP appointment. MedicalCert issues private medical certificates following individual clinical review, from £47. These are not NHS Med3 fit notes. They cannot be used for benefit claims such as ESA or Universal Credit. GOV.UK states that it is your employer who decides what evidence of sickness they accept, so check your employer's absence policy before ordering.
Absences of seven calendar days or fewer can be self-certified without a doctor's note. For absences of eight days or more, your employer can ask for evidence of incapacity under the Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) Regulations 1985. A private certificate from a GMC-registered doctor is one form of evidence they may accept.
How to get a sick note for work online
Complete the online consultation
Describe your symptoms, how long you have been unwell, and how your condition is affecting your ability to work. Upload photo ID and any supporting evidence such as prescriptions, GP letters, or medical records. No appointment needed.
A GMC-registered doctor reviews your case
Every case is individually assessed by a UK doctor. No automated decisions. If the doctor cannot issue a certificate based on the clinical evidence, you receive a full refund.
Receive your signed certificate
Your certificate arrives as a signed PDF you can forward straight to HR or your line manager. Every certificate carries a unique reference your employer can use for direct verification.
What your sick note for work includes
Every certificate is a private medical document signed by a GMC-registered doctor. It contains your name, date of birth, and address as submitted, a description of your condition at the level of clinical detail appropriate for your employer, the start and end dates of your recommended absence (up to 14 days per certificate, with follow-up certificates available), and a fitness-for-work assessment: either "not fit for work" or "may be fit for work" with recommended adjustments such as a phased return, reduced duties, or remote working.
The issuing doctor's full name, GMC registration number, and digital signature appear on every certificate. Your employer can verify these on the GMC register at no charge, and can confirm the unique reference directly with MedicalCert.
Private sick note vs NHS Med3 fit note
A private certificate and an NHS Med3 fit note are different documents. The Med3 is the prescribed statutory form. 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, registered nurse, occupational therapist, pharmacist, or physiotherapist |
| Accepted for employer absence records | Usually, at the employer's discretion | Usually, at the employer's discretion |
| Accepted as SSP evidence | Often, at the employer's discretion under the 1985 Regulations | Normally accepted, the form named in the 1985 Regulations |
| Valid for ESA or Universal Credit | No | Yes |
| Appointment required | No, fully online | Usually yes, face-to-face or telephone |
| Cost | From £47 | Free on the NHS for absences over 7 days. A fee may apply for earlier requests |
| Verifiable by employer | Yes, via unique reference number | Yes, via issuing practice |
If you are applying for Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit, or any other government benefit, you will need a free NHS Med3 fit note from your registered GP. Private certificates are not accepted for benefit applications.
Will my employer accept a private sick note?
Most UK employers accept certificates from GMC-registered doctors for absence records and as evidence for Statutory Sick Pay. However, 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.
Before ordering, check your employment contract or absence policy. If your policy specifies an NHS Med3 fit note, ask HR whether they also accept a private certificate from a GMC-registered doctor. In practice, most employers do. The certificate carries the issuing doctor's GMC registration number and a unique verification reference, which gives your employer the same ability to check authenticity as they would have with an NHS-issued document.
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.
Can a sick note be backdated?
Yes, within clinical limits. A doctor can date a certificate from the point they assess that you became unfit for work, which may be earlier than your consultation, where the clinical evidence supports it. A doctor cannot certify a period they cannot clinically justify, so backdating is never automatic. GOV.UK guidance for healthcare professionals allows a fit note to be based on an assessment of fitness at an earlier date.
Frequently asked questions
No, acceptance is at the employer's discretion. GOV.UK guidance on taking sick leave states that it is the employer's decision what evidence of sickness they require and what they will accept. In practice most UK employers accept a certificate signed by a GMC-registered doctor for absence records, but some absence policies specify an NHS Med3 fit note. Check your policy or ask HR before ordering a private certificate.
Yes. You do not need a face-to-face appointment to obtain a private medical certificate in the UK. MedicalCert's GMC-registered doctors assess your case through an online consultation and issue a signed certificate where the clinical evidence supports it.
Your employer can verify that the certificate is genuine by checking the doctor's GMC registration number on the public register, and by using the unique reference number on the certificate to confirm authenticity with MedicalCert. They cannot access your medical records or obtain clinical information beyond what is stated on the certificate without your consent.
Not in every respect. A private certificate from a GMC-registered doctor is medical evidence an employer may accept for absence records and as evidence for Statutory Sick Pay. It is not an NHS Med3 fit note, so it cannot be used for government benefit applications such as Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit. The Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) Regulations 1985 also allow an employer to accept evidence "by such other means as may be sufficient", so a private certificate can serve, but the choice rests with the employer.
Yes. For absences of seven days or fewer you can usually self-certify without a doctor's note, but if your employer requires medical documentation for a shorter absence, MedicalCert can issue a certificate covering any duration from a single day upward.
MedicalCert issues certificates for any condition where a GMC-registered doctor can assess that your ability to work is affected. Common reasons include back pain, anxiety, depression, stress, flu, migraine, and post-surgical recovery. Every case is individually assessed. If the doctor cannot issue a certificate on clinical grounds, you receive a full refund.
If your employer will not accept a private certificate, obtain a Med3 fit note from your NHS GP. If you believe you are being treated unfairly, for example if they are refusing to pay SSP despite receiving evidence they asked for, ACAS provides free guidance. Your employer cannot withhold SSP where you meet the eligibility conditions and have given the evidence they asked for, and they cannot treat you less favourably because of a disability under the Equality Act 2010.
Please note: MedicalCert issues private medical certificates, not NHS Med3 fit notes. Many UK employers accept them for absence documentation, HR records, and as evidence for Statutory Sick Pay, but acceptance is at your employer's discretion. If you are applying for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or other government benefits, you will need a free NHS Med3 fit note from your registered GP.
Sources referenced on this page
- Taking sick leave, GOV.UK: confirms self-certification for the first 7 days and that the employer decides what evidence of sickness they require.
- Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) Regulations 1985 (SI 1985/1604): the evidence requirement for SSP after the seventh day of incapacity.
- Fit notes (Statement of Fitness for Work), GOV.UK: which healthcare professionals can issue a Med3 and how the form is used.
- ACAS, sickness absence guidance: employer obligations, employee rights, and fair absence management processes.
- Equality Act 2010, GOV.UK: disability as a protected characteristic and the duty to make reasonable adjustments.
