In order to free up GP capacity to focus on the government’s current priorities for the NHS, employees will not be required to provide their employer with medical evidence of sickness absence for the first 28 days of absence. GPs will still be required to supply fit notes for periods of absence exceeding 28 days.
This change takes effect from 17 December, but applies to absences beginning on or after 10 December 2021, up to and including absences which begin on or before 26 January 2022. The self-certification period will revert to seven days for absences beginning on or after 27 January 2022.
We ask, therefore, that you do not contact us to request a fit note for absences that start between the dates above. You can provide your employer with self-certification (form SC2) for this period instead.
Should your employer request evidence from your GP of absences that are less than 28 days’ duration and start within the dates above, please direct them to the following link for further information about the temporary change in rules in order to help GPs deal with current priorities - https://www.gov.uk/taking-sick-leave
For further sick-note info/resources, please click here
Thank you.