Online fit notes & sick certs · UK
Sick notes by condition
Issued online by GMC-registered UK doctors. £33. Same-day in most cases. Pick your condition below and see exactly what we can certify.
GMC-registered doctors
Same-day in most cases
Refund if no cert issued
Employer-accepted under the Employment Rights Act 1996
£33Flat fee. No hidden costs.
2–6 hrsTypical turnaround
30+Conditions covered
A sick cert isn’t a generic document. Migraine, food poisoning, and acute lower back pain need different clinical questions, different recovery windows, and different durations. This page exists because patients keep asking the same thing: “Will you issue a cert for X?”
Honest answer: it depends on what X is, how long you’ve had it, and whether your case needs an in-person exam to rule something serious out. Below is the directory of conditions our GMC-registered doctors routinely certify online, grouped by category. Every linked page explains the typical duration and, just as importantly, the cases where we’ll send you to your GP or to A&E instead.
At a glance
| Cost | £33 flat. Full refund if no cert is issued. |
| Turnaround | 2–6 hours typical. Same-day in most cases. |
| Who signs | GMC-registered doctor. Name and reg number on every cert. |
| Verification | Unique reference number + QR code for employers. |
| Legal basis | Employment Rights Act 1996 |
Conditions we certify
Select a category to see the dedicated condition page, typical cert duration, and clinical criteria.
Respiratory & ENT
Typical cert: 3–5 days
The most common short-duration certs we issue. Flu season in the UK runs October–March, with the clearest spike between December and February.
Digestive & Gastrointestinal
Typical cert: 1–3 days
For most gastroenteritis cases, 24–48 hours is what’s needed. If you work in food handling, healthcare, or childcare, UK public health guidance recommends staying off for at least 48 hours after symptoms clear.
Pain & Musculoskeletal
Typical cert: 2–5 days
Acute lower back pain is one of the most common reasons for short-term absence in the UK. We certify mild to moderate cases where rest and home management is appropriate.
Mental Health & Stress
Typical cert: 3–7 days
Under UK employment law, mental health is treated identically to physical illness. Stress, anxiety and depression account for over half of all working days lost in the UK each year. Your employer is not entitled to know your diagnosis — the cert states “medical reasons”. That’s it.
Women’s Health
Typical cert: 1–3 days
Period pain and UTIs are two of the most under-certified conditions in UK workplaces. Dysmenorrhoea severe enough to keep you from work is a clinical reason for absence — no different to a migraine or any other condition.
Skin, Allergies & Other
Varies by condition
From eczema flares to conjunctivitis and vertigo — conditions that don’t fit neatly into one category but are still valid, certifiable reasons for absence when they impact your ability to work.
How condition-specific assessment works
The form adapts to what you tell us. It’s the clinical history a GP would take — from your phone, at 11pm on a Sunday.
1
Pick your condition
Select from the categories above. The form adjusts its questions to match your symptoms.
2
Complete the form
Takes 3–5 minutes. Secure, GDPR-compliant, and reviewed by a real doctor — not an algorithm.
3
Doctor reviews
A GMC-registered doctor reads your case. If more information is needed, they’ll call you.
4
Cert emailed to you
Signed, with the doctor’s name and GMC number. Includes a unique reference for employer verification.
Who reviews your case
Sicknote.com is co-founded and clinically supervised by Dr. Viktor Simunović. Every certificate is signed by one of our GMC-registered doctors — name and reg number on every cert. Verify at gmc-uk.org.
Dr. Viktor Simunović, M.D.
Co-founder & Medical Director
10+ years GP experience · Clinical protocols & oversight
Dr. Simunović has more than ten years of GP experience running his own practice, is published as an author on health and longevity, and built the clinical protocols this platform runs on.
“Every patient deserves access to quality healthcare without barriers. We bring the doctor’s office to you — with the same professional standards, accuracy, and care you’d expect in person.”
Certificates signed by
Dr. Sunjay Kumar, M.B.B.S.
GMC Reg. No. 7041207
GMC-registered doctor with clinical experience across general practice and internal medicine in the UK. Reviews and signs all Sicknote certificates issued to UK patients.
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to the things people actually want to know.
Yes. Under UK employment law, employers must accept a medical certificate signed by a registered medical practitioner. The law doesn't specify the consultation format — in person, by phone, or online — and there is no requirement for a physical paper cert. If an employer rejects a valid GMC-signed cert, you can raise this with ACAS or an employment tribunal.
No. Standard practice in the UK is to state "medical reasons" or "illness". Your specific condition is private medical information protected under GDPR and the GMC's Good Medical Practice guidelines. The cert confirms you're unfit for work for a defined period. That's all your employer is entitled to see.
Most online certs are issued for 1 to 5 days. Longer periods can be certified if the clinical picture justifies it, but a follow-up assessment is usually required to extend beyond a week. Chronic conditions and anything needing ongoing management belongs with your regular GP.
Our fit notes are accepted by employers for SSP purposes. Note that for DWP claims (Universal Credit, PIP, or Employment and Support Allowance), you will need a Med3 fit note issued by an NHS GP or hospital doctor, as DWP has specific requirements for state benefit claims. For SSP from your employer, our GMC-signed certificate is fully valid.
Probably yes. The categories above cover the most common requests but aren't exhaustive. Start an assessment, describe what's going on in your own words, and a doctor will decide whether your case is suitable for online certification. If it isn't, you'll be told why and refunded in full.
Start your assessment
£33 · Same-day in most cases · GMC-registered doctors · Full refund if no cert is issued
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Not for emergencies
Sicknote.com is not an emergency service. If you or someone else is in danger or needs urgent medical attention, call 999 (emergency services), or go to your nearest Emergency Department. For urgent but non-emergency GP advice, contact your GP practice or call NHS 111 for urgent but non-emergency medical advice.
