An employee has brought in a sick note, but it is signed by a pharmacist. Is this OK? I thought only doctors could sign someone off sick? 

From 1 July 2022, four additional types of healthcare professionals can legally certify and issue a fit note as evidence of an employee's sickness:

  • nurses,
  • occupational therapists,
  • pharmacists and
  • physiotherapists

provided they work in a general practice or hospital setting.

Fit notes certified by such professionals should be dealt with in the same way as a fit note from a GP. This change has been made with the aim of supporting and empowering better conversations about work and health between employers and staff by making it easier to get this advice certified by the most relevant healthcare professional. As with GP fit notes, the fit notes can only be issued following an assessment of a person’s fitness for work, so cannot be issued on request or via over-the-counter services.
 

Further information