If you’ve been off sick for more than 7 days
To request a sick note:
- fill out a sick note request form
If you’ve been off sick for 7 days or less
If you’re off work sick for 7 days or less, your employer should not ask for medical evidence that you’ve been ill. Instead, they can ask you to confirm that you’ve been ill. You can do this by filling in a form yourself when you return to work. We call this self-certification.
Find out more about sick notes on the NHS website.
Fit notes (Sick Notes) for hospital patients: What you need to know
If you are receiving care from a hospital—whether as an inpatient or attending an outpatient clinic—the hospital medical team is responsible for providing your fit note (sick note).
Under national guidance from the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), patients should not be asked to contact their GP solely to obtain a fit note for care managed by a hospital team.
Hospital Responsibility Guidelines
- If you are admitted to hospital (Inpatient):
The hospital team will issue a MED 10 form to cover your hospital stay. Before you are discharged, the hospital doctor managing your care should provide a fit note (MED 3) to cover your expected recovery time at home.
- If you attend hospital appointments (Outpatient):
If a hospital doctor or specialist advises that you need time off work, that hospital clinician is responsible for issuing your fit note. Your GP cannot issue a note for specialist hospital care unless they have taken over full management of that specific condition.
What Should You Do if You Need a Fit Note from the Hospital?
If you were discharged without a fit note, or if your hospital fit note is expiring and you are still under hospital care:
- Contact the Hospital Department: Reach out directly to the secretary or clinic staff of the consultant or hospital team managing your care.
- Request Your Note: Ask the hospital team to issue or extend your fit note for the appropriate recovery period.