If you are unwell and your employer needs evidence, Dr Georgios Schoinas can assess you at a private GP appointment and, where clinically appropriate, issue a private fit note (private sick note) the same day. No registration or referral is needed.
Please read before booking: we cannot issue the NHS Med3 form
The official Med3 fit note is produced through NHS GP and hospital computer systems. As a private clinic, AristoGP does not have access to it. Instead, Dr Schoinas issues a private medical certificate that contains the same information a fit note must include. GOV.UK guidance recognises this type of certificate for clinicians working in private practice.
Most employers accept it, but it is their decision. If your employer or HR team has asked specifically for a “Med3”, check with them first that a private certificate is acceptable. A private certificate cannot be used for Universal Credit, ESA, PIP or other DWP benefit claims. For those, please see your NHS GP.
What our private fit note includes
- Your name and the date you were assessed
- The condition affecting your fitness for work
- Whether you are not fit for work, or may be fit for work with adjustments such as a phased return, reduced hours, amended duties or altered working times
- The period the certificate covers, and whether a review is needed
- Dr Schoinas’s name, GMC number and signature, and the clinic’s address
When you need one
- Days 1–7: you can self-certify. Employees usually use their employer’s form or the SC2 form from GOV.UK; no doctor’s note is required by law. Some employers still ask for a note earlier, and we can provide one after an assessment.
- From day 8: your employer can ask for medical evidence. This is the point at which a fit note is normally requested.
- Returning to work: if you may be fit for some work, the certificate can recommend adjustments to help you return sooner.
When a private certificate is not the right route
- You are claiming Universal Credit, ESA, PIP or another DWP benefit. You need an NHS Med3 from your NHS GP or hospital team.
- Your employer will only accept an NHS Med3.
- You are being treated in hospital or had an operation. The hospital team responsible for your care should issue the fit note.
- Long-term absence for a condition your NHS GP or hospital manages. Continuing certification should come from the team treating you.
- The reason for absence is not medical, for example problems at home or a dispute at work. A fit note cannot be issued for non-medical reasons.
How it works
- Book a 30-minute GP appointment, face to face at our EC1 clinic.
- Dr Schoinas takes a history, examines you where needed and discusses how your health affects your work.
- If he assesses that your health affects your fitness for work, the certificate is issued at the end of the appointment.
A certificate is only issued after a clinical assessment and only for the period the doctor can support clinically. We do not issue certificates without seeing you, and the decision whether to issue one rests with the doctor.
How long a certificate can cover: each certificate covers a maximum of 2 weeks. For the same illness we can issue up to 3 certificates, each after a further appointment. If you need time off beyond that, please see your NHS GP, who can continue your care and certification.
Dr Georgios Schoinas
General Practitioner — GMC Registered
Private GP at AristoGP, 1-5 Portpool Lane, London EC1N 7UU, near Chancery Lane. Consultations in English, Greek and Bulgarian.
Other letters Dr Schoinas can provide
- Return-to-work letter confirming you are fit to return after illness or surgery
- Referral letters to NHS or private specialists
- Medical reports for insurance, travel or other purposes (see medical certificates and reports)
Price and booking
GP consultation — £150 (fit note included, if required)
30-minute consultation with Dr Schoinas. If a certificate is clinically appropriate, it is included in the fee. No registration required.
The fee is for the consultation. A fit note, if required, is included in the consultation.
Book GP appointment — £150Frequently asked questions
Can you issue a Med3 form?
No. The Med3 form is only available through NHS systems. We issue a private fit note containing the same information. Most employers accept it, but if yours has asked specifically for a Med3, please check with them before booking.
Will my employer accept a private fit note?
Most do, and GOV.UK guidance allows employers to accept private medical certificates as evidence in the same way as a fit note. It remains the employer’s decision, so it is worth checking with HR if you are unsure.
Can I use it for Statutory Sick Pay?
Many employers accept a private certificate as evidence for Statutory Sick Pay, but this is at their discretion. A private certificate cannot be used for Universal Credit, ESA, PIP or other DWP benefit claims.
Can you backdate a sick note?
The certificate reflects what the doctor finds at your assessment. It can record when your symptoms started, but it can only cover a period the doctor can support clinically.
Can I get a sick note without an appointment?
No. A certificate is only issued after a face-to-face consultation, in which Dr Schoinas assesses how your health affects your work.
How much does it cost?
The GP consultation is £150 for 30 minutes. A fit note, if required, is included in the consultation. Same-day appointments are often available; message us on WhatsApp to check.
How long can a private sick note cover?
A maximum of 2 weeks per certificate, and up to 3 certificates for the same illness, each after a further appointment. If you are still unwell after that, please see your NHS GP, who can continue your care and certification.