You do not need a doctor's certificate for the first seven days of an illness. Rather, you should complete a self-certification form, more information is available at www.gov.uk/taking-sick-leave. If you need a private certificate requested by your employer or for insurance reasons, there will be a charge for this. It is not recommended that you attend the doctor for sickness certification alone. The doctor is only able to give you a certificate if he/she considers that you are unfit for work; even if you consider you are not fit for work it may be in your own interests to return to work. The doctor will discuss the management of your illness with you and we ask that you respect the decision he/she comes to.
You can request a fit / sick note using either: