If you’re off work sick for 7 days or less, your employer should not ask for medical evidence that you’ve been ill. Instead, they can ask you to confirm that you’ve been ill. You can do this by filling in a form yourself when you return to work. We call this self-certification.

Find out more about sick notes on the NHS Inform.

• fit notes can only be issued if a doctor has assessed the condition. 
• fit notes cannot be issued in advance, for example to be after a surgical operation in the future
• fit notes can be issued retrospectively (at the doctor's absolute discretion) if your condition has been assessed by a doctor at that time. 
• requests for fit notes for any hospital activity are to be directed to the relevant hospital team and can be issued for the full duration you are advised to be off work, have amended duties, or altered hours
• indefinite fit notes can only be issued by a Department of Work and Pensions Medical Assessor and cannot be given by your GP.

To request a sick note

• fill out a sick note request form