England sick notes rise to 2.8 million in first quarter

New NHS England figures reveal that 2,799,842 fit notes—formerly known as sick notes—were issued between April and June 2026. This represents a 6.2 percent increase compared to the same period in the previous year.

Data shows that over 90 percent of these notes declared patients unfit for work. Only 7.8 percent of the total, or 217,254 notes, suggested that patients might be able to work with specific adjustments, such as phased returns, altered hours, or workplace adaptations.

In Great Britain, a fit note is required as medical evidence when an employee is absent for more than seven consecutive calendar days. Since 2022, these notes can be issued by various healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists, following a clinical assessment.