Covid-19 and Requests for Doctor’s Notes (the MED3 ‘Fit Note’)

Covid-19 and Requests for Doctor’s Notes (the MED3 ‘Fit Note’)

Covid-19 and Requests for Doctor’s Notes (the MED3 ‘Fit Note’)

Following recent Local Medical Committee Advice please note:

1. If you are personally affected so isolating for seven days
Patients can and should self-certify for the first seven days as normal if they are unfit to work.
They do not need to contact their GP.

2. If you are personally affected and remaining unwell for over seven days
If they remain unwell and unfit to work after seven days the current advice is to visit www.111.nhs.uk where there is an online self-assessment tool; the patient may be invited to call 111 and given further advice and a MED3 certificate emailed to them.
They do not need to contact their GP.

3. Household contact affected so isolating for fourteen days as per government advice and at risk group following government advice
Employers are responsible for putting in place arrangements for home/remote working where this is possible. Where it is not, the employee may self-certify and return to work following the relevant absence which their employer may authorise as per government advice. Where they do become unwell during or after this time, point 1 and 2 applies.
They do not need to contact their GP.

4. Those in full time education
There is no NHS requirement to issue certification to schools or colleges to confirm absence. These organisations must work with parents and students to ensure that any absence is appropriately recorded, obviating the need for a ‘doctor’s note’.
They do not need to contact their GP.