New online service for people in Sheffield who need coronavirus 'isolation note' for employers

People unable to work for more than seven days because of coronavirus can obtain an isolation note through a new online service.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Isolation notes will provide employees with evidence for their employers that they have been advised to self-isolate due to coronavirus.

For the first seven days off work, employees can self-certify so they don’t need any evidence for their employer. After that, employers may ask for evidence of sickness absence.

The notes can be accessed through the NHS website and NHS 111 online, as well as via the NHS app.

After answering a few questions, an isolation note will be emailed to the user. If they don’t have an email address, they can have the note sent to a trusted family member or friend, or directly to their employer.

The service can also be used to generate an isolation note on behalf of someone else.

As isolation notes can be obtained without contacting a doctor, this will reduce the pressure on GP surgeries and prevent people needing to leave their homes.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock, said:

“It is absolutely vital we do everything we can to ease the burden on our healthcare professionals, allowing them to spend as much time as possible with those patients that need them most.

“Digital isolation notes will provide reassurance to those self-isolating and their employers while also reducing the pressure on our NHS, so they can continue doing all they can to protect the people of this country and save lives.”