Get a sick note from a doctor at Ralmed's 24-hour practice in Sandton, or by video, where the doctor finds it clinically appropriate.
Sick notes at Ralmed
The basics
A sick note from a doctor is a medical certificate that confirms you were not well enough to work, and for how long.
Employers use it to approve paid sick leave. Schools and universities ask for one after a missed test or exam. In each case, the note carries weight because a registered doctor examined you and signed it.
Some people call it a medical certificate. The two terms mean the same thing, and the same rules apply to both.
When you need one
Under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, your employer can ask for a medical certificate before paying sick leave in two situations.
| Situation | Can the employer ask for a sick note? |
|---|---|
| Off sick for one or two days in a row | Not usually, unless it is the third absence in eight weeks |
| Off sick for more than two days in a row | Yes |
| Off sick on more than two occasions in eight weeks | Yes |
| Your contract or company policy asks for more | Check the policy, and ask HR if you are unsure |
If in doubt, get a sick note from a doctor while you are ill. It is far easier than trying to get one after you have recovered.
What it shows
The Health Professions Council of South Africa sets out what a medical certificate has to show. A valid sick note from a doctor includes:
How it works
01
Phone 086 1725 633 at any hour, and choose a visit or a video consultation.
02
The doctor asks about your illness and examines you, in person or on screen.
03
If time off is clinically appropriate, the doctor sets the period you need.
04
You leave with a signed certificate to give your employer or school.
Need a sick note from a doctor today? See a GP at any hour. Call 086 1725 633.
Open when you fall ill. The practice is open 24 hours, so you can be seen the night you get sick.
From home, where suitable. A video consultation can lead to a sick note if the doctor can assess you on screen.
Treatment as well as paperwork. The doctor treats the illness too, with tests on the premises if needed.
A note your employer can check. Every certificate carries the doctor's registered details and signature.
In person or by video
You can get a sick note from a doctor online when the doctor can assess you properly on screen. Some illnesses need an examination, and then the doctor asks you to come in.
Ask about fees when you call. [INSERT: consultation fees for in-person and video consultations]
Questions
Call 086 1725 633 to see a GP at Ralmed's practice at 89 Impala Road, Kelvin View, Sandton, which is open 24 hours a day. You can also ask for a video consultation. If the doctor finds it clinically appropriate, they issue a signed sick note at the end of the consultation.
No. A sick note confirms a doctor's assessment, so you need a consultation first, either in person or by video. The note must also say whether it is based on the doctor's own examination or on what you told them, which is why the consultation matters.
A doctor can only certify what they are able to assess. If you were ill for a day or two before the consultation, the doctor can record that, but the note will show it is based on what you told them. It is always easier to see a doctor while you are still unwell.
No. The doctor describes the illness in plain words only if you agree. If you would rather keep it private, the note says that you had a medical condition, together with the dates and whether you were totally or partially unable to work.
The doctor decides the period based on your illness and how long recovery is likely to take. The note gives the exact dates. If you are still unwell when it runs out, see a doctor again, and they can assess whether you need more time off.
A note from a video consultation carries the same details and signature as one from the practice. Some employers or schools have their own rules about online consultations, so check your company policy if you are unsure. If the doctor needs to examine you, they will ask you to come in.
Yes. If your child misses school, a test or an exam through illness, the GP can issue a note after seeing them, where it is clinically appropriate. Schools often have deadlines for handing in notes, so bring your child in while they are still unwell.
Yes. The practice is open 24 hours a day, every day, including weekends and public holidays. If you fall ill on a Sunday night and cannot work on Monday, call 086 1725 633 and come in, or ask about a video consultation.
Bring your ID and your medical aid card if you have one. If your employer uses employee numbers on sick notes, bring yours, because the doctor can include it. A list of any medicines you take also helps the doctor assess you properly.
Yes. A medical certificate and a sick note are two names for the same document. Both confirm that a registered doctor assessed you, whether you were fit for work, and for how long. The same rules from the Health Professions Council apply to both.
Related services
Besides a sick note from a doctor, you can see a doctor by video consultation, find doctors open near you now, or read about our 24-hour GP practice. Every clinical service is on our doctors page.
The practice in Kelvin View is open every hour of every day, and video consultations are available too. The doctor treats your illness and issues a note where appropriate. For a sick note from a doctor, call 086 1725 633.
Head office based in Sandton, Johannesburg, Ralmed established in 2013, specializes in comprehensive medical and occupational health services in South Africa, dedicated to compassionate, cost-effective care. Call Ralmed Emergency Medical Services today.