Free Sick Certificate​ – Sick Note – Online GP Ireland

If you have been looking for a sick certificate in Ireland, a medical certificate to prove you are unfit to work and want to qualify for Sick pay or illness benefit. You might be struggling to know if your Irish employer needs a valid sick certificate.

It is confusing because different employers have different requirements for granting paid leave. However, you must know exactly what a sick certificate, doctor’s note, sick leave certificate, and medical certificate for sick leave mean in Ireland.

Online doctor services in Ireland have made it simpler and easier to obtain a sick certificate. You can enjoy accessibility and the facility of obtaining a sick certificate in Ireland because online doctors like Eirdoc promise rapid, remote, and valid legal documentation by eliminating the need to visit a GP in person.

What Is a Sick Certificate?

A sick certificate is also termed a sick note or medical certificate for sick leave in Ireland. This is an official document provided by your GP confirming that you are ill and medically unfit to work.

A sick note is your medical proof that helps your employer understand that you are unfit to work and provides them with the estimated recovery time. A sick note is usually granted by your GP if you ask them that you have been absent from your work for 3 or more consecutive days.

A sick note is also required if you want to claim Statutory Sick Pay or if you need to claim the illness benefit provided by the state. A sick note becomes mandatory if you want your illness benefit to be covered by the department protection, only if you are sick for more than 5 days. This facility also grants you 70% of your wages for up to 5 days of sick leave.

You can get your sick certificate from your GP by visiting them personally, or use Online doctor services in Ireland to claim a sick leave certificate. It becomes convenient, simple, and accessible to get a medical certificate online with the services of Eirdoc.

When Do I Actually Need a Sick Certificate?

It is very important for you to document illness-related work absence in Ireland because it is required for HR purposes to adjust your pay. For this purpose, you need to produce a sick certificate. However, the need for a medical certificate for sick leave is crucial at different stages of your illness for claiming different kinds of benefits in Ireland.

1.     To Claim Statutory Sick Pay: From Day 1 of your Illness

You need to produce a sick certificate from a registered GP if you are considering claiming Statutory Sick Pay from day one of your illness. However, Statutory Sick Pay covers 5 days of your illness at 70% of your pay, under the Sick Leave Act 2022.

2.     For Employer-Specific Policies: From 3+ Days of your Illness

In Ireland, most employers allow you to have sick leave on a self-certificate, which means that you do not require a doctor certificate for sick leave. Most employers allow you to have sick leave for the first two or three consecutive days of illness without requiring a medical certificate Ireland. However, you are specifically asked to submit a fit to work certificate if you have frequent, short-term, uncertified absences from work.

3.     For Illness Benefit (From Day 6 of Your Illness)

If you are sick for more than 5 days and cannot rejoin, you can claim illness benefits in Ireland. For this purpose, you are required to submit your sick certificate. Illness benefit is approved by the Department of Social Protection, and it requires you to submit a medical certificate Ireland, stating your incapacity for work. Moreover, you start getting benefits after the 6th constructive day of illness.

How to Get a Sick Certificate Quickly

There are two most trusted and verified routes that you can adopt to get your sick certificate in Ireland.

1.     Option 1: Visiting Your GP for a Sick Certificate

The most common way is to consult your GP and discuss your illness. For this purpose, you need to physically visit your GP and ask them to help you with a medical certificate for sick leave.

For this purpose, you must schedule your visit to your GP, which often takes many days to book your appointment. Moreover, you will have to physically visit your GP, and this becomes difficult if you cannot travel due to your sickness.

Additionally, you will have to experience the wait time in waiting rooms, which itself is a frustrating experience for many. However, this route of obtaining a sick certificate is authentic, and a GP physically confirms your illness and issues a sick certificate upon your request.

2.     Option 2: Use an Online GP Service Like Eirdoc

One of the most popular and trending ways of obtaining a medical certificate is the online route through online doctor services like Eirdoc. Be assured that a medical certificate online is considered valid in Ireland for workplace purposes, only if provided by registered GPs from the Irish Medical Council.

The process of obtaining a sick certificate from online doctor services is easier and more convenient.

• Choose your online doctor services and visit their official website to access the booking or consulting page.
• Fill in a small questionnaire and state your purpose for booking the appointment with an expert.
• Choose your appropriate timing and date for an appointment with your chosen GP.
• You will be responded to with your appointment details within a few minutes of submitting your form.
• On your selected appointment date and time, your requested GP will ask you to join a video or phone consultation.
• Your condition and requirements for the consultation will be discussed, and the doctor will assess your symptoms and medical condition.
• You will receive your certificate via a secure email

What Conditions Can Be Certified Online?

You can get your sick certificate from your online GP services like Eirdoc if you are planning to produce a sick certificate for your employer, illness benefit, or Statutory Sick Pay. However, you must be aware of the medical conditions that can be certified through online doctor services. These conditions can be certified:

• If you are having Covid-19
• If you are suffering from gastrointestinal issues like diarrhoea and food poisoning
• If you have developed Miner infections, such as UTI
• If you are struggling with stress and burnout
• If you have consistent migraines that don’t go away with medications
• If you have sustained minor injuries that limit your capability to work
• If you are suffering from infections like cold and flu

What Information Is on a Medical Certificate Ireland?

It is very important for you to understand and know what information is mentioned on your sick certificate and what information is required by your GP for issuing a fit to work certificate Ireland. This is important because many people are concerned about the transparency and privacy of their personal information, such as their medical history, special medical conditions, and other personal information. However, a medical certificate issued by a certified GP contains the following information:

• Your name, address, and date of birth
• Your GP details, including full name, signature, IMC registration number, and address
• The exact date of the onset of illness, and being unfit to work
• A statement confirming that you cannot work or are unable to join your work
• The date of issue of the certificate
• And the official stamp of your GP

Conclusion

If you are unwell and cannot resume your duties, you should not complicate the process of obtaining a sick certificate from your GP and claim the benefits for sick leave. Therefore, you must be clear about when you need a sick certificate, how different employers and policies work for sick certificates, and how to obtain a fit to work certificate and medical certificate online.

This process has become easier, safer, transparent, and quick with doctor services like Eirdoc that offer same-day appointments and same-day issuance of medical certificates online. Whether you need a fit to work certificate or a doctor’s certificate for sick leave, you can count on Eirdoc for quick, safe, and reliable services.