You do not need a sick note for the first seven calendar days off work; you self-certify. From the eighth day your employer can ask for a fit note, the Statement of Fitness for Work (Med3), and any registered doctor can issue it, including a private GP you see by video. At The Vesey a fit note is included in the £25 Virtual GP appointment when the GP judges you unfit for work.
First, do you actually need one?
For the first seven calendar days of sickness, including weekends, UK employers accept self-certification: you tell your employer you are unwell, and if they want it in writing you complete their own form or the SC2. No doctor is involved and no one can charge you for it.
A fit note is only needed from the eighth day, or earlier if your employer’s own policy asks for one, or for Statutory Sick Pay and some benefit claims. Many people book a GP appointment on day two for a note nobody has asked for. Check your contract first.
What a fit note is, and who can issue one
The fit note is the Statement of Fitness for Work, still widely called a sick note or Med3. It says either that you are “not fit for work” or that you “may be fit for work” with adjustments such as altered hours or duties. Since July 2022 it can be issued by doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists and physiotherapists, and it no longer needs a wet signature: a digital fit note sent to you as a PDF is valid.
Crucially, any GMC-registered doctor can issue one, NHS or private. The form is the same. A private GP who sees you by video, takes a history and judges you unfit for work is issuing exactly the document your NHS GP would.
How to get one online, step by step
- Book a video GP appointment. At The Vesey that is the £25 Virtual GP: pick a time, pay by card, and a secure link arrives by email. No app, no account.
- Have your facts ready. When it started, what your job involves, what you can and cannot do, and any treatment so far. Photos help for a visible problem.
- Be assessed. The GP asks about your symptoms and your work. A fit note is a clinical judgement, not a purchase: if the GP does not think you are unfit, you will not get one, and no reputable provider promises otherwise.
- Receive it. The note is sent to you after the appointment as a digital document to forward to your employer.
Need a fit note? Book a £25 Virtual GP appointment
Fit note included when the GP judges you unfit for work · 15-minute video call · anywhere in the UK
What it costs
Private providers include the fit note in the appointment fee, so the cost is the appointment. On 26 September 2026 that ranged from £25 at The Vesey to £55 to £70 at most app-based and clinic-based online GPs; see our full price comparison. Some pharmacy-led “online sick note” sites sell a certificate after a form with no live consultation; be cautious, because an employer is entitled to ask who assessed you and how.
Will my employer accept a private sick note?
A fit note from a private GP is the same Statement of Fitness for Work as one from an NHS GP, on the same form, and employers’ guidance from the Department for Work and Pensions does not distinguish between them. Some employers’ own policies specify “a doctor’s certificate”, which a private GP satisfies. Very occasionally an employer says “NHS only”; that is their policy, not the law, and it is worth asking HR before you book if you think it might apply to you.
Can a fit note be backdated?
A doctor can issue a fit note covering a period before the appointment if, from what you tell them and what they can see, they are satisfied you were unfit for that period. They cannot certify what they do not believe. If you have already been off for ten days and see a GP today, say so plainly; a note that starts on the day you were first unwell is normal practice, a note for a period the GP has no reason to accept is not.
Fit notes online: the limits
- A GP who cannot examine you may issue a shorter note and ask to see you again, or ask you to see your own GP for a longer one.
- Some online providers cap a first note at two weeks. Long-term or repeated sickness is better managed by the GP who holds your full record.
- A “may be fit for work” note with adjustments is often the more useful document if you can do some of your job. Say so; the GP can write it that way.
- A fit note is not a diagnosis letter, a fit-to-fly letter or an insurance form. Those are different documents with different rules.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a sick note online in the UK?
Yes. Any GMC-registered doctor can issue a fit note (Statement of Fitness for Work, Med3), including a private GP who assesses you by video. It is issued only if the GP judges you unfit for work, or fit with adjustments, and is sent to you digitally after the appointment.
How much does an online sick note cost?
Private providers include the fit note in the appointment fee. On 26 September 2026 online GP appointments were priced from £25 (The Vesey’s 15-minute Virtual GP) to around £70. There is no separate charge for the note itself at The Vesey.
Do I need a sick note for the first week off work?
No. For the first seven calendar days you self-certify, using your employer’s form or the SC2. A fit note is needed from the eighth day, or earlier if your employer’s own policy requires it.
Will my employer accept a sick note from a private GP?
A private GP’s fit note is the same Statement of Fitness for Work as an NHS GP’s, on the same form. Government guidance does not distinguish between them. If your employer’s written policy says “NHS only”, that is their policy rather than the law; check with HR before you book.
Can an online GP backdate a sick note?
A GP can cover a period before the appointment if they are satisfied you were unfit for that period. They cannot certify something they do not believe, so explain your timeline honestly.
How quickly can I get a fit note from The Vesey?
Virtual GP appointments run on set days each week, including Sundays, with live availability shown when you book. Where a same-day slot is free you can book it, and the fit note is sent after your appointment.
This article is general information, not medical advice for your situation. If you have chest pain, severe breathlessness, signs of a stroke or any other emergency, call 999.