---
title: "Medical Certificates and Sick Notes"
url: "https://help.healthbridgeclinical.co.za/en/article/medical-certificates-and-sick-notes"
language: "en"
last_updated: "2026-08-05T12:46:03.692Z"
---

# Medical Certificates and Sick Notes

## Medical Certificates and Sick Notes

**What:** A structured, downloadable certificate confirming a patient was unfit for work or school, issued from the same consultation as their diagnosis.

**Why:** Employers and schools need a formal, verifiable document, not just a diagnosis note, to approve sick leave or absence.

**When:** Any time a patient needs proof of unfitness for a specific date range, with or without their diagnosis disclosed.

## 1\. Open the Medical Certificate toggle

*Location: Consultation › Plan tab › Letters*

During a consultation, click the **'Plan'** tab, then switch on **'Medical Certificate'**, it sits just below the five Clinical Assistant generator cards on the **'Letters'** sub-tab.

![Plan tab Letters sub-tab showing the five Clinical Assistant generator cards and the Medical Certificate toggle switch below them](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/6f69648e-3f19-4ed9-9eca-8c5a71d1a666)

## 2\. Fill in the certificate details

*Location: Plan › Medical Certificate (expanded)*

Once switched on, the certificate expands with:

-   **Withhold patient diagnosis and show generic message**, tick this to keep the diagnosis confidential; the certificate shows a generic unfitness statement instead.

-   **From**, **To**, **Return**, and **Follow-up** dates.

-   **Accompanied by**, **Telephonic consultation**, and **As informed** checkboxes, for the circumstances that apply.

-   **Include signature** (on by default) and **Include timestamp**.

Fill in the structured fields first, editing the generated text directly and then changing a structured option afterwards will regenerate the certificate and discard your text edits.

![Expanded Medical Certificate form showing consent to share diagnosis, withhold diagnosis checkbox, From/To/Return/Follow-up date fields, Accompanied by/Telephonic consultation/As informed checkboxes, and Include signature/Include timestamp checkboxes](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/b70f3929-144f-41a4-9335-cadd71e2cd96)

## 3\. Distribute the certificate

*Location: Medical Certificate › icon row*

Four icons sit above the certificate text: **download**, **edit**, **email**, and **print**. Clicking email checks that your From and To dates are filled in first, fix any flagged field and click email again to send it directly to the patient.

> **Branding and security:** Your practice logo and an authentication QR code are added automatically to every clinical PDF, including this certificate, with no setup needed. A watermark can also be applied to Medical Certificates specifically, see Add or Remove Watermarks on Documents to turn it on.

## Frequently asked

**Q: Can I issue a certificate without disclosing the diagnosis?**

Yes, tick 'Withhold patient diagnosis and show generic message' before generating the certificate. The patient's diagnosis stays in their clinical record either way; only what appears on the certificate itself changes.

**Q: Do I need to turn on the QR code for the certificate to be secure?**

No, the authentication QR code is embedded on every clinical PDF automatically. There's nothing to enable.

**Q: Can I find a certificate again after the consultation is finished?**

Yes, open the patient's file and check the 'Documents' filter tab on their Patient timeline, where every issued letter and certificate is saved.