Do you need a referral for a sick leave certificate?

A sick leave certificate, also called a medical certificate, records that a clinician has assessed your health and considers time away from work medically appropriate. It is not simply an administrative form that can be issued without an assessment. The clinician may ask about your symptoms, job duties, expected recovery, and whether modified work could be suitable.

Some clinics can arrange this assessment directly with a general-practice appointment. Others may ask for a referral, particularly when the certificate follows care from a specialist or another service. Workplace requirements can also affect what information the document must contain.

Contact the clinic or service that will assess you and ask whether self-booking is available, what identification is needed, and whether the certificate can cover the dates your workplace requests. Bring your employer’s form if there is one, along with relevant medical reports and a list of medicines.

Describe the work tasks that are difficult, such as standing, driving, lifting, concentrating, or working around other people. Do not alter or backdate a certificate yourself; ask the clinician how corrections or an extension should be handled.

A certificate request should not delay urgent treatment. Seek immediate medical care for severe breathing trouble, chest pressure, sudden weakness, confusion, fainting, or rapidly worsening symptoms. If your condition is affecting safety at work, stop the hazardous activity and obtain medical advice promptly.

Ask: Can your clinic issue the certificate after a direct appointment? What dates can it cover? What work restrictions should be listed? When should I return for reassessment? How do I request an extension if I am not fit to resume work?