Get a doctor-signed private sick note online confirming your illness or health condition and how it affects your ability to work.
A Private Doctor’s Sick Note (also known as a GP Sick Note, Fit Note, or Workplace Medical Absence Letter) confirms that you are unfit for work due to a medical condition or illness. It outlines your health issue and how it affects your ability to perform work-related duties — providing official evidence for employers, HR departments, or insurers. Our doctors can recommend up to 7 days of sick leave at a time, based on your symptoms and the information you provide in your online assessment.
Employers often request a doctor’s sick note when you need sick leave, an extended absence, or confirmation that your illness is impacting your ability to carry out your role.
At Merlin Health, our doctors assess each case carefully and issue a sick note when medically appropriate — ensuring you receive trusted, accurate documentation.
Your sickness certificate is:
You can request your sick note through our secure online form. One of our UK-registered doctors will review your information and, if appropriate, issue your certificate the same day.
Begin by filling in our secure online health questionnaire – tell us about your illness, how it affects your ability to work, and the period of absence you require.
One of our UK-registered doctors will carefully review your information. If they need more details to support your case, they’ll get in touch before issuing the certificate.
If suitable, your Private Doctor’s Sick Note will be prepared and delivered to your email inbox the same day. Each certificate is written and signed by a registered doctor, and includes a QR code for instant verification by employers and other organisations.
To help our doctors assess your case properly and issue your certificate, you’ll be asked to provide a few key details when completing the online form:
Everything is handled securely online. If our doctors need more information, they’ll contact you before issuing the note.
“When illness affects your ability to work, it’s important to have clear medical documentation that your employer and other organisations can trust. At Merlin Health, our doctors carefully review each case and issue sick notes when medically appropriate — ensuring every certificate is accurate, professional, and supported by a qualified medical review.”
Dr Michael Jones, Co-Founder & Lead Doctor at Merlin Health
“When illness affects your ability to work, it’s important to have clear medical documentation that your employer and other organisations can trust. At Merlin Health, our doctors carefully review each case and issue sick notes when medically appropriate — ensuring every certificate is accurate, professional, and supported by a qualified medical review.”
Dr Michael Jones, Co-Founder & Lead Doctor at Merlin Health
Every Private Doctor’s Sick Note from Merlin Health is a professional medical document that provides clear, verifiable confirmation of your condition and fitness for work. Each certificate includes:
You may need a workplace medical sickness certificate in a range of situations, such as:
Our sickness certificates provide a clear statement from a UK-registered medical professional confirming your illness, how it impacts your ability to work, and — where appropriate — a request for sick leave.
*Our sick notes are not the same as a Statement of Fitness for Work (MED3). MED3 fit notes are used to claim UK government benefits and can only be issued by NHS services. Merlin Health provides private medical certificates for workplace or personal use.
A private sick note is a medical certificate issued by a UK-registered doctor confirming that you are unfit for work due to illness or a health condition. It outlines your symptoms, how they affect your ability to work, and recommends a suitable period of absence — usually up to 7 days.
Unlike NHS certificates, a private doctor’s sick note is provided by a private medical service such as Merlin Health and is accepted by most employers in the UK as official evidence of illness.
An online sick note is a digitally issued medical certificate that you can request remotely. You complete a secure health questionnaire, a UK-registered GP or doctor reviews your information, and, if appropriate, issues a signed, verifiable PDF confirming your sickness and recommended rest period.
Online sick notes are convenient for employees who need legitimate medical documentation without visiting a clinic.
Yes. You can request an online sick note through Merlin Health’s secure platform. After submitting your details, a UK-registered doctor reviews your information and, if clinically appropriate, issues a signed certificate — on the same day.
At Merlin Health, our doctors can recommend up to 7 days of sick leave at a time based on your symptoms and medical history. If you remain unwell after this period, you can request an extension by submitting a new application.
All Merlin Health sick notes are written and signed by a UK GMC-registered doctor. Each document includes the doctor’s full name, GMC number, and a unique QR code that allows employers, HR departments or other organisations to verify authenticity instantly.
Yes. If you’re still unwell after your original sick note expires, you can request an extension. You’ll need to submit a new application so the doctor can review your condition and issue another certificate if needed.
Yes. If our doctor decides your case does not justify a sick note, we’ll provide a full refund.
If we cannot issue a doctor’s note after assessing your information, you’ll receive a full refund. Once a doctor’s note has been issued, refunds aren’t available.
Yes. Stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental-health-related issues are legitimate reasons for sick leave. Our doctors assess each case carefully and may issue a sickness certificate recommending sick leave, adjusted workload, or a short recovery period if medically appropriate.
In the UK, employees can self-certify illness for up to 7 days without a doctor’s note. After that, employers usually require medical evidence. A sick note (also called a fit note or medical certificate) provides this official confirmation from a doctor, verifying that your illness affects your ability to work.
A private sick note is issued by a UK-registered doctor through a private service such as Merlin Health, while a MED3 fit note is issued only by NHS doctors. MED3 notes are primarily used to support state benefit claims and appear on NHS medical records. Private sick notes are suitable for workplace absence, HR, or travel insurance purposes but cannot be used to claim government benefits.
No. Private sick notes are a paid service, as they involve a doctor’s time and professional review. Merlin Health charges £49, which includes a signed, verifiable PDF certificate. NHS sick notes (MED3) are free but only issued following an NHS consultation.
Prices vary between providers, usually ranging from £30 to £70, depending on urgency and format. At Merlin Health, a same-day doctor’s sick note costs £49, with a full refund if a certificate cannot be issued after review.
Yes. A doctor may refuse to issue a sick note if your symptoms or condition don’t medically justify time off work. At Merlin Health, every request is assessed carefully, and certificates are only issued when clinically appropriate.
NHS sick notes (MED3) are free when provided during an NHS appointment. However, if you need a note outside standard NHS care — for example, for travel, insurance, or early employer requests — you may be charged privately by your GP practice.
Backdating is only possible when clinically justified — for example, if you were clearly unwell before requesting the certificate. At Merlin Health, doctors can issue a note that covers a short retrospective period up to 7 days, based on your symptoms and supporting information.
Got a question or special requirement? Email us at info@merlinhealth.co.uk and we’ll be happy to help.
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