Sickness certification / fitness to work
For the first 7 days that you are unable to work through sickness you can complete a self certification form. The seven days includes days that you don’t normally work, so when you work out how long you’ve been off sick, you should include weekends and bank holidays. This form can be obtained from your employer. You can also download the self-certification form from the .gov.uk website. The practice does not issue self certification forms.
If you are in hospital, they will provide you with a sick note. They should also include any period necessary after you leave hospital. If necessary, this can be extended by your GP when you return home.
After the first 7 days, you will need a sick note from your GP. However, when doctors are asked to issue fit/sick notes or sign any paperwork, they have to use their professional judgement to determine whether the requested statement is true and an appropriate one for them to make.
Doctors also have a responsibility to the public bodies that oversee medical practitioners in the UK and can only provide statements that they can justify on clinical grounds.
This is the foundational basis on which the Practice deals with any requests for fit/sick notes. Fit notes are issued as part of a “package” of care plan to facilitate the return-to-work agenda of the government. Patients who are issued fit notes by Diamond Health Group GP's must have a clear, agreed-upon management and treatment plan with a clinician.
Examples of management plans including taking prescribed medication, ensuring engagement with care plan as demonstrated by regular attendance with appointments (specialist, counsellors, and GP), clear evidence of engagement with their employer’s occupational health plan and social prescribers advice, etc.
The fit note focuses on what patients can do at their work. This brings together clinical aspects of illness and how it affects their functioning and ability to work.
If you need to fill out a fit note request form download one here and return it the the email address provided at the bottom of the form.
