Medical Certificates

If you have been off work less than 7 days you do not need a sick note from a Doctor. You have to obtain a self certification note (SC2) from either your employer, the Post Office, Dept of Work and Pensions (formerly DSS office), or click here (pdf file). If you are unemployed or self-employed please fill in a SC1 form.

If you been asked to obtain a MED 4 form, this will require an appointment to see the doctor.

If you have been off work for more than 7 days you will need a medical certificate. If this is a new problem you will need to see a GP before a medical certificate can be issued.

Other Useful notes
You do not necessarily need to see the Doctor on a face to face basis to get a sick note. As long as the Doctor has enough evidence of the reason for sickness, the notes can be done (e.g. hospital letter, casualty attendance - but not the first week of illness).

Hospital Doctors are allowed to issue sick notes before you leave. Therefore please ask the duty staff to organise this.