If you’re unwell and cannot work, you may need a fit note (sometimes called a sick note) for your employer. You do not need a fit note if you cannot work for 7 days or less. A fit note can support you to return to work or stay in work. You can also use your fit note to help you claim benefits or statutory sick pay (SSP).
Please raise a request for a fitnote using eConsult, click below:
- A&E
- Out Patient
- Walk-in Clinics
What You Need to Know
If you are unable to work due to illness, you may need to provide your employer with proof. Before submitting a request through eConsult, please read the guidance below to see if you need to contact us or if your needs can be met elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No. You do not need a fitnote from a doctor for the first 7 calendar days of your illness (including weekends).
- What to do instead: You can "self-certify" your illness. Your employer may have their own internal form, or you can download and fill out the official Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) self-certification form (SC2) on the GOV.UK website.
No. If you have had surgery or received treatment as an inpatient or outpatient at a hospital, the specialist hospital team or consultant is responsible for issuing your fitnote.
- Please note: This includes any extensions needed for your recovery from that specific procedure. Please contact the hospital department or specialist team directly, as our GP team cannot issue these notes.
No. If you have had surgery or received treatment as an inpatient or outpatient at a hospital, the specialist hospital team or consultant is responsible for issuing your fitnote.
Yes. If you have already been assessed by another health service, we can usually offer you a fitnote. This includes situations where you were seen at:
- An Accident & Emergency (A&E) department
- A Walk-in clinic / Urgent Care Centre
How to request: If you meet these criteria, please submit your request to us online via eConsult.
Yes. A fitnote can be backdated with clinical justification for the earlier fitness for work. Clinicians must have medical evidence to support the backdating, which may include reports or records from other healthcare professionals - eg A&E/hospital discharge letter.
There is no need to book an urgent or emergency appointment just to get a fitnote on the exact day it expires.
Please Note: We can't future date fitnotes. This is usually assessed at the time of the presentation - it is not unusual for patients to ask for this.
No. You do not need to see a GP to be "signed back to work." You can return to work as soon as you feel well enough to do so, even if this is before your fitnote officially ends. Your employer cannot legally require a GP note stating you are fit to return.
Summary Checklist: When to use eConsult for a Fitnote
| Situation | Can the GP issue it? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Ill for 7 days or fewer | X NO | Self-certify using the SC2 Form |
| Hospital Surgery / Specialist Care | X NO | Contact the Hospital / Specialist / Surgeon directly |
| Treated at Outpatients or Walk-in clinics | YES | Request via eConsult |
| Ongoing illness previously discussed with the GP | YES | Request an extension via eConsult |