Clinical Director · GP
Dr Haydar Bolat
UK-registered GP and Clinical Director at MHW. Assesses patients and issues fit notes and medical certificates where clinically justified, in line with GMC standards.
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Doctor-assessed · Same-day available · For work or study
Private sick notes & fit notes.
Need a medical certificate for work or study? After a proper consultation, our GMC-registered doctors can issue a private sick note (fit note) where it is clinically appropriate. We assess you genuinely — a certificate follows from the consultation, it is not simply bought.
Educational information — not a substitute for clinical assessment
A medical certificate is a clinical document. We can only issue one after assessing you and where it is honestly justified. This page explains how it works; it does not guarantee a certificate will be issued in any individual case.
What a fit note is
A fit note (formerly “sick note”, officially a Statement of Fitness for Work) is a document from a doctor or other eligible healthcare professional giving their opinion on whether your health affects your ability to work, and if so, for how long. It can say you are not fit for work, or may be fit for work with adjustments such as altered hours or duties.
When you might need one
- You have been off work for more than 7 days and your employer asks for a note
- Your employer or school requires medical evidence for an absence
- You need documentation of a health condition affecting work or study
The first 7 days
For most jobs in the UK you do not need a doctor’s note for the first 7 calendar days of sickness — you can “self-certify” using your employer’s own form (SC2 or similar). A doctor’s fit note is generally needed only once an absence goes beyond 7 days, though some employers have their own policies.
Check before you book
If you have been off for less than a week, you can usually self-certify and may not need to pay for a note at all. Check what your employer actually requires first — we are happy to advise.
How we issue one
- Consultation — in person or, where appropriate, by video. We assess your symptoms and how they affect work or study.
- Clinical judgement — if a certificate is justified, the doctor decides the wording and duration.
- The note — issued to you, digitally or printed, ready to give to your employer or school.
Our honest approach
We are a CQC-registered clinic and our doctors are GMC-registered. That means we can only issue a certificate after a genuine assessment and where it is clinically honest to do so. We cannot back-date dishonestly or certify something that is not supported by the consultation. This protects you, us, and the value of the document.
Other letters we provide
We also write a range of other private medical letters — fit-to-fly, school and university letters, insurance and other reports. See our Medical & Support Letters page for the full list.
Book a consultation
If you need a fit note beyond the first week of illness, or documentation of how a condition affects your work, book a consultation and we will assess you properly.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost?
The fee covers the consultation and, where appropriate, the certificate. Current prices are on our Fees page.
Can I get a note for the first few days off?
Usually you don’t need one — for the first 7 days you can self-certify with your employer’s own form. Check what your employer requires before booking.
Will you definitely issue a note?
Only if it is clinically justified after assessing you. A certificate follows from a genuine consultation; it is not simply bought.
Can it be back-dated?
A doctor can only certify honestly based on the assessment. We cannot issue dishonest or inappropriately back-dated notes.
Can I have the consultation by video?
Often yes, where it is clinically appropriate for your situation. Some cases need an in-person assessment.
Do you do fit-to-fly and school letters too?
Yes — see our Medical & Support Letters page.
Your care at MHW
Who oversees medical certificates at MHW
Care at Tower Bridge Hospital London is delivered by a small clinical team, with Dr Haydar Bolat as Clinical Director. The specific clinicians involved in your care depend on the plan agreed with you at consultation.
Languages spoken across the team: English, Turkish, Bulgarian, Bengali, Hindi, Albanian, Azerbaijani, German, Romanian. We can also arrange professional telephone interpreters in most other languages at no extra cost. More on languages and interpreters →
Editorial review
This page was reviewed by Dr Haydar Bolat, Clinical Director at Tower Bridge Hospital London. Content reflects UK Statement of Fitness for Work (fit note) guidance and GMC standards on signing documents. It is updated when guidance changes. Educational information only — not a substitute for clinical assessment.
Need a fit note?
Book a consultation. If a certificate is justified, we can usually issue it the same day.