Fit Notes After Hospital Care
If you are likely to need a fit note (also known as a MED 3 or sick note) when you come out of hospital or following an outpatient attendance, please ask the doctor treating you in hospital to provide you with one before you leave.
This page explains common myths and the facts about who should issue fit notes.
Common myths
- Myth 1: Consultants and junior doctors don’t write fit notes; it’s only a GP’s job.
- Myth 2: If you attended outpatients, the hospital can’t issue a fit note.
- Myth 3: The hospital can’t send a fit note by text or post.
- Myth 4: Hospitals can only issue fit notes for one or two weeks.
- Myth 5: Fit note pads are only supplied to GP surgeries.
Facts
- Fact 1: Fit notes can be issued by NHS and private doctors.
- Fact 2: It may be a contract breach if a hospital fails to provide a fit note when responsible for your care.
- Fact 3: The doctor treating you has a statutory obligation to issue a fit note when appropriate.
- Fact 4: Treating doctors can sign you off for an appropriate period according to your condition.
Why this matters
Every year, thousands of GP appointments are taken up by patients requesting fit notes that should have been issued by hospital doctors at the time of treatment. Please help us keep GP appointments available for patients with genuine clinical need by obtaining your fit note from your hospital clinician.
If you have problems getting a fit note
Contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) team:
- Tel: 0800 432 0251
- Email: wuth.patientexperience@nhs.net
Guidance from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Who should issue the Statement of Fitness for Work (MED 3)?
The duty to provide a MED 3 rests with the doctor who, at the time, has clinical responsibility for the patient.
Hospital out-patients
For an out-patient this will generally be the hospital doctor. In cases where the patient’s GP has not taken over responsibility for the incapacitating condition, the treating clinician should issue any subsequent statements for an appropriate forward period.
Hospital in-patients
Form MED 10 should continue to be issued to cover any period that the patient is in hospital. On discharge, the doctor who has clinical responsibility should provide, if appropriate, a MED 3 to cover a forward period. This avoids unnecessary GP appointments solely for sickness certification.
