Request a Sick Note

If you are off work sick for 7 days or less, your employer should not ask you for a doctor's certificate. You will need a medical certificate (sick note) if you are off work sick for 7 or more days, the seven days include days that you don't normally work, such as weekends and bank holidays.

You can request a sick note by calling reception on 0115 8838660, if this is for a new sick note you will need to be assessed by a doctor first. For ongoing sick notes reception will ask you some questions and add this to the GP admin list for the day.

You can also request ongoing sick notes via our Accurx link - Contact us about your request (accurx.com) by clicking Admin Query

Your employer 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. This is called self-certification.

Self-certification forms usually include details such as:

• information about your sickness or illness
• the date your sickness started
• the date your sickness ended

These dates may be days that you don't normally work. For example, your sickness could start or end on a Saturday, Sunday or bank holiday.

Many employers have their own self-certification forms. If your employer doesn't have their own form, instead they may use an SC2 form from HM Revenue & Customs Employee's Statement of Sickness.

Download a template self certifcation form

If you are sick and off work for more than seven days, your employer will normally ask you to provide a medical certificate from your GP.

When you need a certificate will also depend on your employer's company policy on sick leave (or sickness absence). This policy should tell you how many days you can be off sick before you need a note.

To find out about your employer's policy:

• ask your team leader or supervisor, or
• speak to someone from your human resources (HR) or personnel department