No, doctors cannot issue medical certificates for future dates. They can only certify illness from the date of consultation onward, or for past dates if clinically justified.
Medical certificates are legal documents that confirm a doctor’s professional assessment of your health. Because a doctor cannot predict how you will feel in the future, medical certificates cannot be issued in advance.
What Can a Doctor Do?
✅ Certify a medical condition from today’s date based on your symptoms.
✅ Include past dates if your illness clearly started earlier and prevented you from working.
✅ Recommend follow-up care if your condition may require extended leave, allowing you to get a new certificate if needed.
What Doctors Cannot Do:
🚫 Certify an illness before it happens. If you have an upcoming surgery or medical procedure, you will need to request a certificate on or after the procedure date.
🚫 Guarantee how long you’ll be unwell. If you are still unwell after your certificate expires, you will need a follow-up consultation for reassessment.
💡 Need additional time off? If your symptoms persist, book another appointment with an Abby doctor to extend your certificate as necessary.
