All patients must self-certify for the first 7 days of illness. Please speak to your employer about their own sickness procedures. They should not ask for medical evidence that you’ve been ill, only for you to confirm that you have and the dates of your illness. Your GP will not issue a note during this period.
If you have been off sick for more than 7 days, you can request a Fit Note but you will have needed to be seen or spoken to by a Clinician regarding the problem first. If you have attended the hospital, such as Accident & Emergency for the illness, then an appointment may not be needed and a copy of the hospital letter may suffice.
All Fit Note requests must be in writing and cannot be requested over the telephone unless you are discussing it with a Clinician during a telephone appointment. If you have had a procedure or operation at a hospital, they are responsible for providing you with a Fit Note for the duration required.
Find out more about sick notes on the NHS website.