About Sick Note for Work
A UK service issuing private sick notes from GMC-registered doctors, and a plain reference on sick note rules, sick pay and sick leave rights.
What we do
Two things. We issue private medical certificates for work, assessed and signed by GMC-registered UK doctors. And we publish clear, sourced answers to the questions people ask when they are off sick: how long they can self-certify, when an employer can ask for a note, what statutory sick pay they are owed, and what their employer can and cannot do while they are off.
The second exists because the official rules are spread across GOV.UK, ACAS and NHS pages written for different readers, and the April 2026 sick pay changes made a lot of older advice wrong. We bring the rules together, say where each one comes from, and keep the dates on every page.
What a private sick note is, and is not
A private sick note is a medical certificate written and signed by a registered doctor after an online assessment. It is not an NHS fit note, the statutory form sometimes called a Med3. Your employer decides what evidence of sickness it accepts, and government guidance for employers says a private medical certificate can be accepted, with the employer’s agreement. Benefit claims such as Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance need an NHS fit note.
A note is a clinical judgement, not a purchase. A doctor reviews every request and will decline where issuing one would not be appropriate. If that happens, you are refunded in full.
How the information here is produced
Every legal, pay and clinical claim on this site is checked against a primary source: legislation, GOV.UK, ACAS or the NHS. Each page lists its sources and the date they were checked. Where the rules are unclear or depend on your employer’s own policy, we say so rather than guess.
What this service is not
It is not a substitute for your own GP, and it is not urgent care. We do not manage ongoing conditions and we do not give legal advice about a dispute with your employer. For that, ACAS runs a free helpline. If you are unwell, speak to a doctor. In an emergency, call 999.
Who operates this site
SickNoteForWork.co.uk is operated by Medical Cert UK, a trading name of Nobel Medical LLC, part of the MedicalCert group. Registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office, registration number ZC112101.
Common questions
Who issues the sick notes?
GMC-registered UK doctors working for Medical Cert UK. Every request is assessed individually by a doctor, who decides whether a note is clinically appropriate.
Is a private sick note the same as an NHS fit note?
No. An NHS fit note (sometimes called a Med3) is a statutory form. What we issue is a private medical certificate, signed by a doctor, that your employer can choose to accept as evidence of sickness. Government guidance says employers can accept a private medical certificate, but the decision is theirs. If you are claiming Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance, you need an NHS fit note. The difference is explained here.
Are you a real medical service?
Yes. SickNoteForWork.co.uk is operated by Medical Cert UK, a trading name of Nobel Medical LLC, registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office under registration number ZC112101.
What if the doctor will not issue a note?
A doctor can decline if a note would not be clinically appropriate, for example if your symptoms need an in-person examination or urgent care. If that happens you receive a full refund.
How is the information on this site kept accurate?
Every legal, pay and clinical fact is checked against a primary source: GOV.UK, legislation.gov.uk, ACAS or the NHS. Each page lists the sources used and the date they were checked. Statutory sick pay figures change every April and are re-checked then.
Do you replace my own GP?
No. This is a documentation service for work absence, not a replacement for your GP or for urgent care. If you are unwell, speak to a doctor. If it is an emergency, call 999.
Related
Need a sick note for work?
Complete the online questionnaire. A GMC-registered UK doctor assesses every request individually.
Get startedAssessed by a GMC-registered UK doctor. Full refund if a note cannot be issued on clinical grounds.