Med3 Fit Notes
You do not require a doctor’s sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.
Evidence that you are sick
If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).
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.
If you’re sick and off work for more than seven days, your employer will probably ask for proof of your illness. Most employers ask for a fit note from your GP.
However, this 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 to provide proof of illness or a fit note.
You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP. Please use PATCHS to order.
Statement of Fitness for Work – ’Fit Note’
The ‘fit note’ was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer’s support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.
For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced)
Is your health affecting your ability to work? We can help.
Vocational rehabilitation is a service for people who are struggling with daily life and employment because of their health. This might mean you’re off sick, or finding it hard to manage in work, or worried you might have to stop working soon. Our team is here to help you stay in work, or return when you are ready.
We’ll help you build a plan that works for your situation and support you to remain in work well where possible. To begin your referral, follow these three steps:
- Download C19-YRS app from the App Store or Google Play
- Choose option “I want to register at a centre”
- Enter the referral code: BDCVR25
- Register, you will need your NHS number. Find your NHS number – NHS
- Complete the short questionnaire to help us assess if you’re eligible. It takes about 10-15 minutes
Once we’ve received your completed questionnaire, our team will review your answers and invite you for an initial conversation. Together, we’ll explore what kind of support you need and create a plan that works for you. We’ll check in regularly and adjust things along the way to help you stay on track.
The service is mainly online. We also run clinics for those who need face-to-face support. The service has dedicated translators across over 85 different languages, including Punjabi, Urdu, Polish and Bengali.
This service is for adults registered with a GP practice within Bradford Districts and Craven who:
- Are off sick or at risk of going off work due to a health issue
- Are struggling to manage their job because of physical or mental health symptoms
- Have been referred by a GP or healthcare professional
You don’t need a formal diagnosis to use the service, but you do need to complete the referral steps above.
If you’re eligible, you’ll be supported by the vocational rehabilitation service. This is a free NHS service offering:
- Support to manage your symptoms at work
- Help with returning to work if you’re off sick
- Advice around fatigue, pain, anxiety, or other barriers
- Guidance about pacing, confidence, and work-life balance
- Optional support around workplace conversations or adjustments
You’ll work with a friendly, experienced team to create a plan that fits your situation and goals.
