Boston, Lincs, PE22 9LE
Sick Notes
All sick notes state the reason for your absence from work. The doctor will normally give you a sick note when you are seen with a sickness requiring more than a week off work. In some circumstances a sick note may be collected from the surgery without seeing the doctor.
If you are off work for up to one week (5 working days) you do not need a sick note but you do need to inform your employer. This means that you can either write to your employer, or, if you prefer, you can send a Statutory Sick Pay Form or Employees Statement of Sickness (Form SC2). This can be downloaded here. Complete the form and hand it to your employer.
Unfortunately, some employers are insisting on a doctor's note for less than one week's absence. If you need a sick note in these circumstances the doctor will charge a fee for a private certificate.
Once you have been off sick for more than one week (5 working days) you may be required to obtain a sick note from the doctor.
If you have had no contact with a doctor during your illness, you will need to make an appointment or speak to one of the doctors on the telephone in order to arrange a sick note. This is important as it is not usually possible to backdate a sick note if you have not already been seen with the condition causing your absence from work.
If you have a continuing problem, then it is usually necessary to make an appointment to see your doctor when your sick note is due for renewal.
If you have been in hospital, a sick note can be issued by the hospital doctor or Ward Sister; or, if your GP has been informed by the hospital of your diagnosis and treatment, then he / she can issue a sick note. In this situation, it is not normally necessary for the doctor to see you in person.
In general, sick notes that are provided on the basis of another doctor's advice can only be given for up to a maximum of 4 week's sickness absence. When the sick note is due for renewal, a review is necessary unless there is further correspondence from the hospital about your case.
It is not possible for a sick note to be backdated unless it is for a continuing illness for which you have already seen the doctor, or you have been seen for the condition by another medical professional, (e.g. Accident & Emergency Department, Hospital Doctor, or another GP) If you are not certain that the doctor has evidence that you are ill, it is best to see or speak to a doctor as he /she will need to document that you are ill before a sick note can be provided.
Sick notes from your doctor are normally free of charge. However, if you require a private certificate or you require a doctor' sick note for an absence of less than a working week, there is a charge - enquire at reception or see the notice in the waiting room for the current fee.
Please note that we also charge for certificates concerning private sickness insurance, holiday cancellation, etc.