WHAT TO DO IF YOU NEED TIME OFF WORK WITH AN ILLNESS
For the first week of absence from work with an illness the law says that you do not need an NHS doctor’s sick note. Instead you acover the absence yourself using a self-certificate which you should get from your employer or benefits office. (They are not obtainable from GP Surgeries) If your employer will not accept this then they are not complying with the law. If, in addition to the self certificate, your employer wishes a private sick note, then arrange this with your doctor, who is entitled to charge for this.
If you need to be off longer than one week and you need a sick note, then you will need to see the doctor for an NHS sick note. Sick notes cannot be usually issued without a face to face consultation and normally cannot be back dated (there are exceptions to both of these situations – discuss this with your doctor if in any doubt).