Med3 Fit Notes

You do not require a doctor’s sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a ‘Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

Statement of Fitness for Work – ’Fit Note’

The ‘fit note’ was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer’s support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced)

Fit Notes and School Aged Children

We occasionally have had requests to complete a fit note (also called a Med3 or commonly referred to as a sicknote) for children at school.

GP practices do not provide sick notes for school children or those in education, as these are for people who are in work in order to obtain ill health benefits such as statutory sick pay, which children in school would not be eligible to receive. Parents/guardians are responsible for excusing their children from school and this should be evidence enough without requiring a doctors note.

As such the surgery is not able to supply a fit note for a child’s absence. Often the only proof that should be required for a child being off sick is a note from the parent/guardian/carers. If a child is off with a long-term condition, they will be under a specialist and they will be responsible for providing an assessment if requested.

Students who have missed exams due to illness are frequently told that a note from a doctor is required. This is not correct. The General Practitioners Committee (GPC) has sought and received confirmation from the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator that Awarding Organisations make no requirement for pupils to obtain a medical certificate in support of their application for special consideration. The Joint Council for Qualifications has confirmed that as far as they are concerned, if a student missed an exam from illness and the child has the support of the school/exam centre, they take this into consideration and not require medical proof.

If a letter is requested as evidence for school absence, the practice considers this unnecessary but this is a private, non-NHS service that would incur a charge for providing a letter.