Notes on Sick Certificates
You do not require a doctor’s certificate (Form Med3 or Med4) for any illness lasting seven working days (sundays excluded) or less. Your employer however, may require you to complete a ‘Self Certificate’ (SC1) which you can obtain either from your employer or local DSS Office. If your employer insists on a private certificate you will usually be charged (as recommended by the BMA and LMC) but you should be able to get a refund from your employer (ask them first!). After the seventh day you will need a doctor’s certificate (Med3) and you need to be seen in person by your doctor. If you have previously received certification for a condition from your GP or another doctor (hospital consultant or GP) then to extend the period off work you will need to request a MED 5 certificate . We need a written record (eg an outpatient or hospital discharge letter) to provide continuing certification for a condition for which you are receiving treatment from another doctor.
Please note we can only supply certification if you have previously seen a doctor for the condition. (If you have seen a hospital doctor for the condition we can only supply certification if we have a written record of the treatment administered.)
