What a fit note is, what the two options mean, how long they last, and what your employer can and cannot do.
A fit note (officially called a Statement of Fitness for Work) is a document issued by a healthcare professional confirming that you have a medical condition affecting your ability to work. It replaced the old “sick note” (Med 3 form) in 2010. The name change reflected a shift in focus — from what you cannot do to what adjustments might allow you to return.
You give the fit note to your employer as medical evidence. Your employer is responsible for deciding what to do with it. Your GP or other healthcare professional does not contact your employer.
The healthcare professional certifies that you should not work for the period specified. Your employer should not expect you to work during this time.
The clinician thinks you might be able to return — but only if your employer can make specified adjustments. If your employer cannot make those adjustments, treat this as ‘not fit for work.’
For the first 7 calendar days of any sickness absence you can self-certify — no GP appointment required. Use your employer’s self-certification form, or the HMRC form SC2 if your employer does not have one.
From day 8 onwards your employer can request a fit note. Your GP or other eligible clinician (nurse, pharmacist, physio, OT) can issue one. You can request a fit note for a period that has already started — it does not have to be issued in advance.
Since July 2022, fit notes can be issued by any of the following registered healthcare professionals — not just GPs:
This means you may be able to obtain a fit note from a hospital clinician or specialist without needing a separate GP appointment.
There is no maximum duration. GPs issue fit notes for whatever period they judge is clinically appropriate — days, weeks, or months. For long-term conditions, a GP may issue a note covering several months at once. You should not need to request a new note until the current one expires.
You can also ask your GP to issue a fit note backdated to when your illness began, covering the whole period of absence.
A fit note does not automatically entitle you to sick pay — that depends on your employment contract. However, if you qualify for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), a fit note is part of the evidence your employer uses. SSP is a minimum set by law — your contract may provide more. SSP rates and eligibility rules change annually — check at gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay.