Hospital and Sick Certification
Hospital Doctors have also been issued with guidance on Fit Certificates,
Hospital staff should therefore provide their patients with an adequate certificate to cover the expected period of disability. Ward nurses can issue a yellow certificate for the duration of a patient’s inpatient stay, and all wards and outpatient clinics should have a supply of normal Med3s for medical staff use. If the patient has unexpected complications that necessitate a GP consultation, it is appropriate for the GP to provide any necessary treatment and/or specialist referral and to provide any additional certification that is required. Similarly if the patient's recovery is delayed beyond the expected period then the GP is obliged to provide further certification.
Please let the LMC office know whenever a patient is discharged with inadequate certification – we can only encourage change if we can give the trusts specific examples!
