Sick notes, fit notes and medical letters after GP assessment
A GP assesses you first, by secure video or telephone, with proper time to take a history and understand what the document needs to cover. Where clinically appropriate after assessment, fit notes, medical certificates and letters follow promptly by email.
Assessments for documents are running as normal by secure video or telephone during our sabbatical period. In-person appointments are expected to resume from 24 August 2026.
We do not sell documents
To be plain about it: there is no document counter here. You book a consultation, a GP assesses you, and a document is issued only where the assessment supports it.
That is not us being difficult. A certificate or letter is a doctor’s professional opinion, and it is only worth having if it is honest. The GP takes a proper history, looks at any records or results you provide, and writes what the clinical picture supports. If the assessment does not support what you need the document to say, we tell you plainly, explain why, and suggest the right next step. The consultation fee covers the GP’s time and assessment, not a particular outcome.
Fit notes
A fit note sets out whether, in the GP’s opinion, you are not fit for work, or may be fit for work with adjustments. Where adjustments would help, the note can suggest things like amended duties, altered hours or a phased return, which gives your employer something practical to work with.
Fit notes are issued after assessment, where clinically appropriate. If your illness began before the appointment, tell the GP. Where your history and records reasonably support it, the note can reflect that period.
Sick notes and medical certificates
Beyond the standard fit note, employers, schools, universities and other organisations often ask for a medical certificate or a short letter confirming an illness, an absence or a period of reduced capacity. Common examples include certificates for missed examinations, mitigating circumstances letters for students, and confirmation of a medical condition for an employer.
The same rule applies throughout: the GP assesses you first and certifies only what the assessment supports. It helps to know exactly what wording or evidence the organisation needs before you book, as requirements vary.
Referral letters
If you need to see a private consultant or specialist service, the GP can write a referral letter following your consultation. The letter summarises your history, the assessment findings and the reason for referral, which gives the specialist a proper starting point and often saves you a wasted first appointment.
Sometimes the GP will suggest a test or two before referring, so the specialist has the information they need on day one. And with your consent, we send a short summary to your NHS GP so your records stay joined up.
Fit to fly and travel letters, where appropriate
Airlines and travel companies sometimes ask for a letter confirming you are fit to travel, most commonly after a recent illness, an operation, or in later pregnancy, when many airlines want a letter from around 28 weeks. Requirements differ between carriers, so check your airline’s own rules and deadlines before you book the assessment.
The GP reviews your history, your current condition and any recent results, and writes the letter where clinically appropriate. Some fit to fly requests depend on an examination or on recent test results we cannot obtain remotely. Where that is the case, the GP will say so and direct you to the appropriate service. In-person appointments are expected to resume from 24 August 2026.
What information we need
The more of this you have to hand, the smoother the consultation and the quicker the document.
- Who the document is for, and exactly what they need it to say or cover. If they have a form or required wording, have it ready.
- The relevant dates: when the illness started, time off work or study, travel dates, and any deadline.
- Your relevant medical history, current medicines, and any letters, records or test results you already have.
- Your NHS GP’s details, if you consent to us sending them a summary.
- Photo identification, where the document needs to confirm who you are.
When we cannot issue a letter
Sometimes the answer is no. We would rather say so clearly than take a fee under false pretences. The GP cannot issue a document when:
- the assessment does not support what the document is being asked to say. We explain why and record the reasons.
- the request relates to a period of illness the GP cannot reasonably assess from your history and records.
- we are asked to state something we do not know or cannot verify.
- the request needs an examination, or tests and readings that cannot be taken remotely. Where that is the case, the GP will say so and direct you to the appropriate service. In-person appointments are expected to resume from 24 August 2026.
- the certification sits outside general practice. Some occupational, sporting and aviation assessments must be done by a specific approved examiner, and we will point you in the right direction.
And a letter is never the answer to an emergency. If you have severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, signs of a stroke, or heavy bleeding, call 999 or go to A&E now. For urgent advice that cannot wait for an appointment, contact NHS 111. This is private healthcare and it does not replace your NHS GP.
Fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| GP assessment, 15 minutes (secure video or telephone) | £65 |
| GP assessment, 30 minutes (secure video or telephone) | £79.99 |
Payment is taken securely when you book. Any document fee is separate from the consultation fee and depends on the document. Current document fees are listed on our appointments and fees page.
Frequently asked questions
Are documents guaranteed?
No, never. The fee pays for a GP assessment, not a particular outcome. Documents are issued only where clinically appropriate after that assessment. If the GP cannot support what a document is asked to say, we tell you plainly and explain why.
Can I get a sick note the same day?
Often, yes. Same day appointments may be available, subject to availability. If the assessment supports a certificate, it is usually emailed to you shortly after the consultation. Book online to see the next available time, or call us on 020 8882 8088.
Will my employer or university accept a private fit note?
In most cases, yes. Our doctors are GMC registered and the document sets out the clinical assessment and the GP’s advice. Bear in mind that for the first seven days of illness most employers accept self certification, so it is worth checking exactly what your employer, school or university needs before you book.
Can a sick note be backdated?
Only where the assessment supports it. A certificate can cover a period before the appointment if your history and any records reasonably justify it. We do not certify an illness we cannot assess, and we do not adjust dates to suit a deadline.
Do I need to come to the clinic?
No. The assessment is by secure video or telephone and documents are sent by email. If the GP feels your request needs an examination, we will say so and direct you to the appropriate service. In-person appointments are expected to resume from 24 August 2026.
Can the GP issue a private prescription as well?
If medication is one of the appropriate options, your GP will discuss this during the consultation and explain the safest next steps. We do not guarantee prescriptions and we do not provide medicines on demand.
Will you tell my NHS GP?
Only with your consent. Where you agree, we send a short summary to your NHS GP so your records stay joined up. This is private healthcare and it sits alongside your NHS care. It does not replace your NHS GP.
How quickly will I receive my letter?
Most documents follow by email within one or two working days of the consultation, once the GP has everything needed. Longer or more complex letters can take more time, and we tell you at the consultation if that applies to you.
What if my problem is urgent or an emergency?
A letter is never the right response to an emergency. If you have severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, signs of a stroke, or heavy bleeding, call 999 or go to A&E now. For urgent advice that cannot wait for an appointment, contact NHS 111.
Book a GP assessment
Speak to a GP by secure video or telephone, with proper time to go through what you need. Where clinically appropriate after assessment, your fit note, certificate or letter follows promptly by email.