Sick Notes - Charles Street Surgery


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Sick Notes

Introduction

The circumstances under which a doctor can issue a sick note (form MED3 or MED5 certificate) are strictly controlled by the Department of Work and Pensions. The provision of such a certificate can only be in respect of a patient’s occupation, and they are not available for any other purpose. The maintenance of sick notes is usually the patient's responsibility.

A MED3 is a statement of incapacity for work (the usual sick note).
A MED5 is a special statement of incapacity for wor, usually on discharge from Hospital.

Medical certificates are official documents and may be used to obtain financial benefits related to employment, and their issue and use is governed by law.

Where a confirmation of sickness is required for a purpose not related to employment, or where the confirmation is for employment but falls outside the criteria for MED3 or MED5 issue, this is not an NHS service and a private letter of confirmation may be provided for which a fee is charged. See Private Services and Fees.

Rules for Issue

A medical certificate is only issued after 7 days of absence. You are able to self-certify absences for periods of up to 7 days using your employer’s internal sick and absence procedures. Where a doctor’s certificate is requested for absences of less than 7 days a private fee is payable. See Private Services and Fees.

You must be examined by your doctor on the day, or on the day before the MED3 certificate is issued. You must therefore arrange to see your doctor by the date on which you wish the certificate to take effect. You should do this in sufficient time to obtain your appointment bearing in mind demand, or attend Open Surgery. MED3 certificates cannot be backdated.

In some other limited circumstances a MED5 certificate may be appropriate however this is subject to specific criteria which requires patients to have been examined on a previous occasion, at which time absence for the whole of the certificate period would have been advised.