{"id":213,"date":"2023-10-06T10:17:50","date_gmt":"2023-10-06T09:17:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nhs-demo.surgeryweb.org.uk\/?page_id=213"},"modified":"2026-09-15T15:48:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T14:48:15","slug":"sick-fit-notes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/surgerywebtemp.org.uk\/b83012\/sick-fit-notes\/","title":{"rendered":"Sick (fit) notes"},"content":{"rendered":"

A fit note (sometimes called a sick note) provides medical evidence about how your health affects your ability to work.<\/p>\n

If you have been off work for 7 days or less<\/h3>\n

You do not<\/strong> need a fit note from the practice if you have been unable to work for 7 calendar days or less. This includes weekends and bank holidays.<\/p>\n

You can self-certify your absence with your employer.<\/p>\n

Find out about taking sick leave and self-certification \u2013 GOV.UK<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

If you have been off work for more than 7 days<\/h3>\n

If your illness or health condition affects your ability to work for more than 7 calendar days, you may need a fit note.\u00a0If you need your first fit note for your current illness, a healthcare professional may need to assess you before a fit note can be issued. This does not always require a face-to-face appointment.<\/p>\n

To request a fit note, please submit a request using PATCHS.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\tRequest a fit note using PATCHS<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

If you are unable to use PATCHS, please call our reception team on 01274 484111 or speak to us in person. Our reception team can help submit a request on your behalf.<\/p>\n

Extending a fit note<\/h3>\n

If your current fit note is coming to an end and you are still not well enough to return to work, you can request a further fit note.<\/p>\n

Please submit your request on the day your current fit note expires, or after it has expired. Please do not request an extension in advance.<\/p>\n

Fit notes cannot<\/strong> be future dated. If there is a delay in requesting or issuing your further fit note, a clinician can backdate it where clinically appropriate, so there does not necessarily need to be a gap between your fit notes.<\/p>\n

To request an extension, please submit a request using PATCHS.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\tRequest a fit note using PATCHS<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

Returning to work<\/h3>\n

You do not normally need another fit note to confirm that you are fit to return to work.<\/p>\n

A healthcare professional may advise on your fit note that you may be fit for work if your employer can provide appropriate support. This could include a phased return, altered hours, amended duties or changes to your workplace.<\/p>\n

You should discuss any recommended adjustments with your employer.<\/p>\n

Charges<\/h3>\n

NHS fit notes are free of charge when they are required for an absence lasting more than 7 calendar days.\u00a0If you ask the practice to provide private medical evidence for an absence of 7 days or less, or require another type of private letter or certificate for your employer, a fee may apply.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A fit note (sometimes called a sick note) provides medical evidence about how your health affects your ability to work. If you have been off…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-213","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/surgerywebtemp.org.uk\/b83012\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/213","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/surgerywebtemp.org.uk\/b83012\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/surgerywebtemp.org.uk\/b83012\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/surgerywebtemp.org.uk\/b83012\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/surgerywebtemp.org.uk\/b83012\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=213"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/surgerywebtemp.org.uk\/b83012\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/213\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/surgerywebtemp.org.uk\/b83012\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=213"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}