Private Sick Notes, Fit Notes and Medical Certificates in London: Same-Day From a GMC-Registered Doctor
If you need a sick note, fit note, or medical certificate today and cannot get an NHS GP appointment in time, The Online GP by The Wellness provides same-day documentation from GMC-registered doctors. Phone consultations start from £49, in-person from £79, and the fit note or medical certificate is included at no extra charge. A private fit note carries the same legal standing as an NHS one and is accepted by all UK employers. We also provide medical certificates for universities, insurance claims, visa health clearance, and fit-to-fly documentation.
Get a Same-Day Fit Note - WhatsApp | Email: team@thewellnesslondon.com | Call: 020 3951 3429
How Fit Notes Work in the UK
A fit note (officially called a Statement of Fitness for Work) is a medical document issued by a doctor certifying that a patient is either "not fit for work" or "may be fit for work" with specific adjustments. It replaced the old-style sick note in 2010 as part of a shift towards a more nuanced approach that considers whether modified duties, altered hours, or workplace adaptations might enable someone to continue working despite a health condition.
Under UK employment law, you do not need a fit note for the first 7 calendar days of sickness absence. During this period, you self-certify by informing your employer. From day 8 of absence, your employer can require a fit note from a registered medical practitioner (or, since April 2022, from certain other registered healthcare professionals including nurses, pharmacists, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists).
A fit note can be issued for any condition that affects your ability to work, including physical illness and injury, mental health conditions (anxiety, depression, stress, burnout), recovery from surgery or medical procedures, pregnancy-related illness, and chronic conditions during flare-ups.
The fit note is a legal document. Issuing one requires a proper clinical assessment by a qualified practitioner. A doctor must genuinely assess your condition and form an honest clinical opinion about your fitness for work. At The Online GP by The Wellness, every fit note is issued by a GMC-registered doctor following a thorough consultation, in full compliance with GMC and DWP guidance.
When You Need a Private Fit Note
The most common scenario is simple: you are unwell, you need a fit note for your employer, and you cannot get an NHS GP appointment quickly enough. In a system where NHS appointments routinely take days or weeks, this creates a practical problem. You are too unwell to work, your employer requires documentation, and the only way to get it through the NHS is to wait for an appointment that may not be available until after you have recovered.
A private GP consultation solves this. At The Online GP by The Wellness, you can have a phone consultation (from £49) within hours of contacting us, receive a clinical assessment, and have your fit note issued the same day. For phone consultations, the fit note is sent electronically. For in-person consultations (from £79), it can be provided on paper.
Other situations where a private fit note or medical certificate is needed include employer requests for medical evidence before day 8 (some company policies require this), return-to-work certificates confirming you are fit to resume duties, university extenuating circumstances documentation, insurance claim medical evidence, immigration and visa health clearance, and fit-to-fly certificates for airlines.
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Other Medical Documentation We Provide
Beyond fit notes, The Online GP by The Wellness provides a range of medical documentation that patients commonly need.
Medical letters for employers. If your employer requires a letter from a doctor about your health condition, recommended adjustments, or fitness for specific duties, our doctors can provide detailed medical letters on official clinic letterhead.
University medical certificates. For extenuating circumstances applications, deadline extensions, or authorised absences. Accepted by UK universities. Can be issued the same day.
Fit-to-fly certificates. If you have a medical condition and need certification that you are safe to fly, or if an airline has requested medical clearance, our doctors can assess you and provide the necessary documentation. This is commonly needed after recent surgery, hospital admission, deep vein thrombosis, or respiratory illness.
Insurance claim documentation. Detailed medical reports and letters for health insurance claims, travel insurance claims, and income protection claims. Fully itemised receipts are also available.
Visa and immigration health clearance. Medical examinations and letters required for visa applications, residency permits, and immigration processes. We can provide these for patients of any nationality.
Referral letters. If you need a referral to a specialist, hospital, or other healthcare provider, our doctors provide detailed referral letters outlining your clinical history and the reason for referral.
All documentation is produced by GMC-registered doctors, on official clinic letterhead, and can typically be provided on the same day as your consultation.
Important: What a Private Fit Note Cannot Do
We believe in being transparent about what a private fit note can and cannot achieve, because this protects both you and us.
A fit note is a clinical opinion, not a guaranteed entitlement. Your doctor must genuinely assess your condition and form an honest view about your fitness for work. If your doctor concludes that you are fit for work, they will not issue a fit note stating otherwise, regardless of what you or your employer may want. This is a fundamental requirement of GMC good medical practice guidance and is not negotiable.
A fit note does not guarantee that your employer will accept your absence without question. While a valid fit note provides strong legal evidence supporting your absence, employment disputes about sickness absence are governed by employment law, your contract, and your company's sickness absence policy, not by the fit note alone.
A fit note from a private doctor carries the same legal standing as one from an NHS GP. Your employer cannot refuse to accept it on the basis that it was issued privately. If they do, this may constitute a breach of employment law.
We take our professional obligations seriously. Every fit note we issue is based on a genuine clinical assessment and reflects our honest medical opinion. This protects you (because the document is robust and defensible) and protects us (because we are compliant with GMC and DWP requirements).
Why Choose The Online GP by The Wellness
Same-day access. Phone consultations often within hours. In-person the same day if you contact us before midday.
Fit note included in consultation fee. No separate charge for documentation. Phone from £49, in-person from £79.
GMC-registered doctors. Every certificate issued by a qualified, registered doctor. Legally valid and employer-accepted.
All documentation types. Fit notes, medical letters, university certificates, fit-to-fly, insurance reports, visa clearance. One clinic for everything.
No NHS registration needed. Open to everyone including international visitors and students.
Confidential. Your consultation and documentation are private. Nothing shared with NHS or employers without your consent.
Book Now - WhatsApp | Email: team@thewellnesslondon.com | Call: 020 3951 3429
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a sick note today? Yes. Phone consultations from £49, often within hours. Fit note issued the same day.
Is a private sick note accepted by employers? Yes. A fit note from any GMC-registered doctor is legally valid and accepted by all UK employers.
What is the difference between a sick note and fit note? Same document. "Fit note" is the official name since 2010. It states you are either "not fit for work" or "may be fit for work" with adjustments.
When do I need one? From day 8 of sickness absence. Some employers require medical evidence sooner as a matter of company policy.
How much does it cost? Consultation from £49 (phone) or £79 (in-person). The fit note is included at no extra charge.
Can international visitors get medical certificates? Yes. No NHS registration needed. Fit-to-fly certificates, insurance documentation, and medical letters all available.
Can I get a certificate for university? Yes. Same-day university medical certificates for extenuating circumstances, deadline extensions, and authorised absences.
The Online GP by The Wellness provides private doctor-led healthcare from our Marylebone clinic. All fit notes and medical certificates issued by GMC-registered doctors in accordance with GMC and DWP guidance. Contact us on WhatsApp at +44 7961 280835, email team@thewellnesslondon.com, or call 020 3951 3429.
References
DWP. Getting the most out of the fit note: guidance for GPs and other healthcare professionals. Updated 2024.
GMC. Good medical practice: duties of a doctor. Updated 2024.
Gov.uk. Fit note: what it is and how it works. Updated 2025.
ACAS. Managing sickness absence. Updated 2025.
