Your employer may ask you to confirm that you've been ill for the first 7 days. You can do this by filling in a form yourself. This is called self-certification.

Self-certification forms usually include details such as:

• information about your sickness or illness
• the date your sickness started
• the date your sickness ended

These dates may be days that you don't normally work. For example, your sickness could start or end on a Saturday, Sunday or bank holiday.

Many employers have their own self-certification forms. If your employer doesn't have their own form, instead they may use an SC2 form from HM Revenue & Customs Employee's Statement of Sickness.

If you have 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. For requesting sick/fit notes please use AccuRx link above to contact us.

Download a template self certifcation form

There is usually no charge for providing a fit note if you are off sick for more than 28 days.

Some employers may request a fit note (e.g. from employees who repeatedly take time off sick) even if they are off work for 28 days or less. This is a private non-NHS medical certificate.

If your certificate runs out, but you are still sick, please request a further sicknote by using the AccuRx link above.

Fit certificates can be back-dated so it is not necessary to make an emergency appointment to renew your certificate.