The short answer is yes — and it's been legal since long before the pandemic normalised it.

THE LAW ON SICK NOTES

UK law requires fit notes to be issued by a registered healthcare professional. It does not require a face-to-face consultation. A doctor reviewing your symptoms via a video call, telephone consultation, or a detailed online questionnaire is legally sufficient to issue a fit note.

This is confirmed by NHS guidance and has been standard practice in private healthcare for years.

WHY PEOPLE ASSUME YOU HAVE TO GO IN PERSON

The assumption that you need to physically visit a GP for a sick note comes from how the NHS has traditionally worked — not from any legal requirement. NHS GPs have historically preferred in-person appointments for record-keeping and clinical assessment purposes.

Private online doctors operate differently. They're designed around speed, convenience, and digital-first service. The clinical assessment is equally thorough — it just doesn't require you to travel anywhere.

WHAT INFORMATION DOES A DOCTOR NEED TO ISSUE A SICK NOTE?

To issue a fit note, a doctor needs to assess:

● Your current symptoms and how they affect your ability to work

● How long you've been unwell

● Whether your condition means you cannot work at all, or could work with adjustments

● Any relevant medical history

At Dr Sick, we gather all of this through a detailed online consultation form. Our doctors review every submission individually before issuing any certificate.

IS IT SAFE TO GET A SICK NOTE ONLINE?

Yes — provided you use a CQC-registered service with GMC-registered doctors. Dr Sick meets both requirements. Every note we issue includes verifiable doctor credentials and a unique reference code.

Get your same-day online sick note at drsick.co.uk — no appointment needed.