Help Centre – UK
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about getting your fit note in the UK — issued by GMC-registered doctors, online, same day.
About the Service
Sicknote.com is an online medical platform where UK patients can get a certified fit note (Statement of Fitness for Work) from a GMC-registered doctor — without visiting a GP in person. The service is fully online and typically same-day.
We serve patients in the United Kingdom and UK. We do not operate in other EU countries. UK fit notes are issued exclusively by GMC-registered doctors. If you're in UK, visit sicknote.com.
Yes. All doctors issuing UK fit notes are fully registered with the General Medical Council (GMC). You can verify any doctor's registration on the GMC Medical Register. We publish our doctors' names and GMC numbers on our website.
A UK consultation and fit note costs £33. This includes the full online consultation, doctor review, and your official fit note delivered as a PDF to your email. No hidden fees.
Yes. Remote consultations are fully legal in the UK. GMC-registered doctors can issue fit notes following an online consultation — this has been standard practice since the pandemic-era changes to fit note rules. The government confirmed in 2022 that a wider range of healthcare professionals can issue fit notes, and online assessments are explicitly permitted.
Fit Notes Explained
A fit note (officially called a "Statement of Fitness for Work") is the official UK medical document used to certify that you are unwell and unable to work, or that you may be able to work with adjustments. It replaced the old "sick note" in 2010. It is issued by a GMC-registered doctor and is required by employers and for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) claims after 7 days of illness.
A fit note includes two options: "Not fit for work" — your doctor certifies you cannot work at all during the specified period. "May be fit for work" — your doctor advises you could return with reasonable adjustments, such as phased return, amended duties, altered hours, or adapted workplace conditions. The doctor will choose the appropriate option based on your condition.
No. For the first 7 calendar days of illness, you can self-certify — meaning you simply tell your employer you were unwell. You only need a fit note from a doctor if you are absent for more than 7 days. Our service is for cases where a doctor's note is required.
Your fit note includes: the doctor's name and GMC registration number, the assessment type (phone/online), your name, the condition affecting your fitness for work, whether you are "not fit" or "may be fit" for work, any recommended adjustments, the period covered, and a unique reference for verification.
We cover a wide range of conditions including stress, anxiety, burnout, depression, chronic pain, migraines, back pain, fatigue, viral illness, gastroenteritis, and more. The doctor assesses each case individually. Conditions requiring urgent in-person or emergency care are outside our scope — we will advise you accordingly.
How It Works
1) Complete a short medical questionnaire about your symptoms and how they're affecting your ability to work. 2) Pay securely online (£33) and verify your identity. 3) A GMC-registered doctor reviews your case and issues your fit note — usually within a few hours.
Most fit notes are issued same day, typically within 1–4 hours during working hours. We aim to process all orders as quickly as possible. You'll receive your certificate by email as a PDF.
No video call is required. The consultation is completed via a detailed written questionnaire. If the doctor needs clarification, they may follow up through our secure messaging system. The fit note will state the assessment was conducted by phone/online — this is fully compliant with current UK fit note rules.
Identity verification is a medical compliance requirement. It ensures the certificate is issued to the correct person and protects you and your employer from fraud. We use a secure, UK GDPR-compliant verification process.
If the doctor determines a fit note is not clinically appropriate, you will receive a full refund. Our doctors make independent medical judgements and cannot be overridden — this protects the integrity of every certificate we issue.
💷 SSP Tip: To qualify for Statutory Sick Pay, you must have been off work sick for at least 4 days in a row (including non-working days) and earn at least £123/week. A fit note is required after 7 days of absence. See the section below for more detail.
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
SSP is the minimum sick pay your employer must pay you if you're too ill to work. As of 2025, it is £116.75 per week for up to 28 weeks. To be eligible, you must be an employee (not self-employed), have been ill for 4+ consecutive days, and earn at least £123/week.
Yes. Our fit notes are issued by GMC-registered doctors and are fully valid for SSP purposes. You submit it to your employer, who is responsible for processing your SSP claim. The fit note proves your absence is medically certified.
Many employers offer enhanced sick pay above the statutory minimum. Our fit note is valid for both SSP and any company sick pay scheme — check your employment contract or HR policy for your employer's specific requirements.
Yes, you can still get a fit note — though self-employed individuals are not entitled to SSP. A fit note may still be useful for insurance claims, client contracts, or as official documentation of your illness.
Employers
Yes. A fit note issued by a GMC-registered doctor is legally valid regardless of whether it was issued in person or remotely. The UK government explicitly permits online/telephone assessments for fit note purposes. Employers are legally required to accept valid fit notes.
Contact our support team. We can provide a verification letter explaining the legal basis for online fit notes in the UK and confirming the issuing doctor's GMC registration. Email us at [email protected] or reach us via WhatsApp on our UK number.
Yes. Every certificate contains a unique QR code and reference number linking to our verification page at sicknote.com/verify, where employers can confirm the certificate is genuine and unaltered. If you encounter any issues with the verification page, the legitimacy of any certificate can also be confirmed directly by emailing [email protected] with the certificate reference number.
Yes. If you are medically unable to travel due to illness or a medical condition, our GMC-registered doctors can issue an Unfit for Travel certificate. This is commonly used to support travel insurance claims, airline refund or cancellation requests, or other travel-related documentation needs. The process is the same as for a fit note — complete the questionnaire and the doctor will assess your situation and issue the certificate if clinically appropriate.
Privacy & Data
Yes. We comply fully with UK GDPR (post-Brexit). All data is encrypted in transit and at rest. We only collect information necessary to complete your consultation and never sell your data to third parties. Full details are in our UK Privacy Policy.
Only the doctor reviewing your case and necessary support staff (under strict confidentiality obligations) have access to your medical details. Your employer only sees the fit note itself — not your underlying medical information or consultation answers.
We retain medical records in line with UK healthcare data retention requirements. You can request deletion of your data at any time by contacting [email protected], subject to any legal retention obligations.
Still have questions?
Our UK support team is here to help — usually responding within a few hours.
Need Help?
Our support team is here to assist you with your certificate needs