For illness lasting up to 7 calendar days or less (including weekends and bank holidays). You do not need a doctors fit note.

However your employer can ask you to confirm that you’ve been ill. You can do this by filling in a self-certification form provided by your employer or by use the following link Download a self certifcation form

Is your health affecting your ability to work?

Vocational rehabilitation is a free to access NHS service for people who are struggling with daily life and employment because of their health. This might mean you’re off sick, or finding it hard to manage in work, or worried you might have to stop working soon. Vocational rehabilitation is here to help you stay in work, or return when you are ready.

This is a free NHS service offering:

• Support to manage your symptoms at work
• Help with returning to work if you’re off sick
• Advice around fatigue, pain, anxiety, or other barriers
• Guidance about pacing, confidence, and work-life balance
• Optional support around workplace conversations or adjustments
• For more information click the following link Healthy Working Life programme,

Fit Notes

If you’ve been off work for more than seven days, then you may need to show your employers a fit note.  For further information regarding fit notes please click here.

If you are currently in work the practice will issue an initial “fit note.” If any further additional “fit note” are required for a long-term health conditions, then please contact the Vocational Rehabilitation service who will  manage further certification. 

To begin your referral to this NHS service, ensure you meet the following criteria and then following the instructions to self-refer:

• Aged 18 or over
• Currently employed
• Off work sick or at risk of going off work
• Registered with a GP in Bradford District and Craven
• Have a physical or mental health condition that is affecting your ability to work

You do not need to speak with our practice to self refer please click Vocational rehabilitation self referral – Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership

All other “fit note” requests must be made through PATCHS click here or by using NHS app.

Fit notes can be backdated so it is not necessary to make an emergency appointment to renew your certificate. It may take 5 working day to review your request.

There is usually no charge for providing a fit note if you are off sick for more than seven 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 seven days or less. This is a private non-NHS medical certificate.

For sickness of seven days or less, a charge of £40 is payable in order for us to provide a certificate.

We also do not provide fit notes for school or universities.

You can return to work once your fit note date runs out. You do not need a certificate to say you are fit to work.  You can also return to work before your fit note runs out if you feel able to.

If you are still unwell then you will need to contact the practice again before you can get a further certificate.