New procedure for Sick Notes

Employees can take time off work if they’re ill. They need to give their employer proof if they’re ill for more than 7 days.

If they’re ill just before or during their holiday, they can take it as sick leave instead.

Employees must give their employer a ‘fit note’ (sometimes called a ‘sick note’) if they’ve been ill for more than 7 days in a row and have taken sick leave. This includes non-working days, such as weekends and bank holidays.

The fit note will say the employee is either ‘not fit for work’ or ‘may be fit for work’.

If it says the employee ‘may be fit for work’, employers should discuss any changes that might help the employee return to work (for example, different hours or tasks). The employee must be treated as ‘not fit for work’ if there’s no agreement on these changes.

Getting a fit note

Employees can get a fit note from the following healthcare professionals:

• GP or hospital doctor
• registered nurse
• occupational therapist
• pharmacist
• physiotherapist

The healthcare professional needs to assess the employee’s fitness for work before giving a fit note.

Getting a fit note at Portcullis Surgery

Sick notes can now be requested upto 2 weeks prior to the expiry of a previous sick note.

We will usually be able to provide a sick note within 5-7 working days of receiving your request so please request your sick note with plenty of time so that you do not run out. 

The duty doctor is too busy and will no longer be providing “emergency ” sick note on the day.

We are sorry if this is inconvenient for patients but we must prioritise patients who are unwell and cannot provide an emergency sick note service.

At Portcullis Surgery we have now authorised all our nurses to be able to provide sick notes however, in order to obtain a sick note all patients must fill in the following form below.

Please fill in the form below to the best of your ability as it will form part of your assessment.

Fit notes are free if the employee has been ill for more than 7 days when they ask for one.

If a sick note is required by an employer even though the employee has been ill for less than 7 days we will charge a fee of £20 for this service.

Employees will need to discuss this with their employer and ask them for reimbursement of any fees charged by the practice.

Fill in the form below online and submit

OR

You can download the form here, print it and hand it in

Sicknote request form

OR

you can get a printed form from reception