Medical certificate assessments
Medical certificates through telehealth: when further assessment may help
A HerDoc GP can assess your medical certificate request through telehealth, whether you need a short absence or time off for ongoing symptoms. Discuss how your health affects your work or study and the support you need.
Is telehealth suitable for a medical certificate assessment?
Yes. Telehealth is a suitable option for medical certificate assessments, including short-term requests and longer absences. A HerDoc GP can discuss your symptoms, their effect on work or study and any previous care. The GP decides what they can certify and whether further information, follow-up or a physical examination is needed.
Discuss how your health affects your day
You can explain what is wrong, when it started and which tasks are difficult. For example, if a painful elbow makes digging or lifting difficult at work, describe those duties and how the pain affects them.
The GP can assess your request using the information you discuss and decide whether an examination is needed. The AMA’s certificate guidance recognises that a doctor’s assessment can include a medical condition reported by the patient and accepted by the doctor.
Longer absences and ongoing symptoms
You can discuss a longer absence or an extension through telehealth. Have your symptom history, previous certificate and any relevant treatment information handy. The GP can review your progress and the period of absence they can support.
If stress or anxiety makes attending a clinic difficult, telehealth gives you a way to discuss both your health and your certificate request. Follow-up can help the GP review ongoing symptoms and support needs. Whether an examination or other assessment is needed depends on your circumstances.
Check the requirements for a specialised document
Workers-compensation, insurance, legal and fitness reports can require a particular form, assessor or examination. They should not be treated as interchangeable with an ordinary sickness certificate.
Ask the requesting organisation which document and assessor it requires. Have those instructions ready before seeking the assessment, particularly for safety-sensitive work, driving or other formal fitness questions.
When further information or an examination helps
Sometimes the GP needs a particular examination finding, measurement or record before they can support the requested opinion. This may arise with an initial request or a longer absence, depending on your symptoms and the information available.
A recommendation for further care does not automatically rule out a certificate during the current consultation. The GP can explain what they can document now and what needs further assessment.
If you need earlier days covered, have the actual symptom dates and relevant records handy. A certificate must show the date it was written; the GP may describe an earlier period of illness when they have enough information to support it. The AMA guidance explains this distinction.
Leave with a clear next step
Discuss both your documentation needs and any care or follow-up for your symptoms. You can ask what period the GP can support, whether your progress needs review and what to do if you are not improving.
If further assessment is needed, ask where to go, how soon to act and which records to take. For a documentation deadline, check the requesting organisation’s requirements.
When telehealth may not be suitable
- An examination or physical test is needed to support the requested medical opinion
- A specialised document requires a particular assessor or an in-person assessment
When to seek urgent care
Call 000 or go to an emergency department for an emergency such as chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, stroke signs, severe bleeding or immediate danger. For other severe or rapidly worsening symptoms, seek urgent local care rather than waiting for a certificate appointment.
- Chest pain or significant breathing difficulty
- Stroke signs, severe bleeding or fainting
- Severe, sudden or rapidly worsening symptoms
- Immediate danger or another emergency
Discuss your medical certificate request
A HerDoc GP can assess how your health affects work or study and discuss your certificate request, care and next steps.
Related pages
FAQs
Can telehealth help with a longer medical certificate request?
Yes. A HerDoc GP can assess a longer absence or an extension through telehealth. They will consider your symptoms, progress and previous care before deciding what period they can support. Duration alone does not determine whether an in-person visit is needed.
Does an injury always need examination before a certificate can be issued?
No. The GP can discuss the injury and how it affects your work or study. They will decide whether that information supports a certificate or whether a physical examination is needed first.
Can I discuss a certificate if stress or anxiety makes leaving home difficult?
Yes. You can discuss your symptoms, how they affect daily activities and your certificate request through telehealth. The GP can assess what they can certify and discuss care or follow-up for your health.
What should I check for compensation, fitness or other formal reports?
Ask the requesting organisation for its form, instructions and any assessor requirements. You can discuss the request with a HerDoc GP, but completing it may need examination or another assessor. An ordinary sickness certificate may not meet those requirements.
What if I need earlier dates covered?
The certificate must show the date it was written. It may describe an earlier period of illness if the GP has enough information to support that period. Have the actual symptom dates and relevant records handy; earlier days cannot be promised.
Can a certificate be issued if I also need further care?
It may be possible. The GP considers what they can document from the current assessment as well as any further care you need. Recommending another assessment does not automatically prevent a certificate from being issued.