Fit / Sickness Notes

 

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How to Request a Fit Note

If you are off work for 7 days or less, you do not need to give your employer a fit note or other proof of sickness from a medical professional.

Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or you can download it from the HMRC website.

You must give your employer a doctor’s ‘fit note’ (sometimes called a ‘sick note’) if you’ve been ill for more than 7 days in a row and have taken sick leave. This includes non-working days, such as weekends and bank holidays.

Taken sick leave for more than 7 days in a row?

  • You can view and download your Fit Note via the NHS App. Once you are in the NHS App, click 'view your GP health records'. You will find your Fit Note in 'documents', under 'Consultations and Events'. This is the quickest and easiest way to access your Fit Note.

  • You can also submit your request for a new or repeat sick note via eConsult. All sick notes need to be reviewed by a clinician and an appointment may be required. Your sick note will be emailed to the address on your records or provided by you in your eConsult.

 

Medicine Sick Day Rules

Taking certain medicines when you are dehydrated or very unwell can result in you developing a more serious illness. This is because they can increase the risk of dehydration and lead to potentially serious side effects. This is known as Medicine Sick Day Rules. These medicines should be temporarily stopped if you are at risk of becoming dehydrated with any of the following:

  • Vomiting or diarrhoea (unless only minor)
  • Fevers, sweats or shaking

You can restart the medication after 24 to 48 hours of eating and drinking normally. Do not take extra for missed doses.

Please see our Sick Day Rules page for further information.

 

Which medications should I stop?

  • ACE inhibitors: names ending in ‘pril’ - examples: lisinopril, perindopril, ramipril. A medicine for high blood pressure and heart conditions. If you are dehydrated, these medicines can stop your kidneys working properly.
  • ARBs: names ending in ‘sartan’ - examples: losartan, candesartan, valsartan. A medicine for high blood pressure and heart conditions. If you are dehydrated, these medicines can stop your kidneys working properly.
  • Diuretics: sometimes called ‘water pills’ - examples: furosemide, bendroflumethiazide, indapamide, spironolactone. Used for excess fluid and high blood pressure. These medicines can make dehydration more likely.
  • NSAIDs: anti-inflammatory pain killers - examples: ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac. If you are dehydrated, these medicines can stop your kidneys working properly.
  • Metformin: a medicine for diabetes. Dehydration can make it more likely that you will develop a serious side effect called lactic acidosis.
  • SGLT2 inhibitors: names ending in ‘flozin’ - examples: canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, ertugliflozin. A medication used in the treatment of Diabetes, Kidney disease or Heart Failure. These medicines can make dehydration more likely and if you have diabetes can cause acid to build up if you are unwell.

More information relating to SGLT2 inhibitors