Employees eligible to receive statutory sick pay are not normally required to provide their employer with medical evidence to support sickness absence for the first 7 days of absence. For longer periods of absence, they must obtain a fit note from their GP.

In order to free up GP capacity to focus on the current priorities for the NHS of delivering the COVID-19 booster programme and emergency care, from today employees will not be required to provide their employer with medical evidence of sickness absence for the first 28 days of absence. GPs will still be required to supply fit notes for periods of absence exceeding 28 days.

This change takes effect from 17 December, but applies to absences beginning on or after 10 December 2021, up to and including absences which begin on or before 26 January 2022. The self-certification period will revert to 7 days for absences beginning on or after 27 January 2022.