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Self-Certified (Uncertified) Sick Leave in the HSE — the 2026 Rules

Last verified 1 Sept 2026· Published 21 Jul 2026

Quick answer: HSE employees can take up to 7 days of self-certified (uncertified) sick leave in a rolling 24-month period (pro rata for part-time staff). No doctor's certificate is needed for those days, but you must notify your line manager and follow the absence procedure.

Not every sick day needs a doctor's cert. HSE employees can take a limited amount of self-certified (uncertified) sick leave — here is exactly how it works, what the limits are, and where people get caught out.

The core rule

HSE employees may take up to 7 days of self-certified sick leave in a rolling 24-month period (pro rata if you work part time). For those days you do not need a medical certificate — but you must:

  • Notify your line manager (or designate) before your normal start time on each day of absence, and
  • Complete a self-certification form when you return to work — your manager provides it. This applies from the first day of absence.

Failing to notify in time can result in the day being recorded as unauthorised leave rather than sick leave.

When a cert becomes mandatory

A GP or specialist certificate is required for:

  • Any absence longer than 2 consecutive working days;
  • Any absence once you have used up your 7 self-certified days in the rolling 24 months;
  • Any absence your manager specifically requests certification for.

It still counts

Self-certified days are not "free" days — they count toward your overall sick-leave record under the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme, and the record is monitored. A pattern of frequent short absences can trigger a formal absence-management review, and your paid sick-leave entitlement is calculated over a rolling 4-year look-back.

How it fits the bigger scheme

Self-certified leave is the first tier of the wider scheme: paid certified sick leave (up to 92 days full pay, then 91 days half pay, capped at 183 days in a rolling 4 years — the same for all staff, not tiered by length of service), then Temporary Rehabilitation Remuneration (TRR) for longer illness, with the Critical Illness Protocol for serious conditions. The full picture is in our HSE sick leave policy guide.

Based on the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme as applied in the HSE, 2026. Local notification procedures vary by site — always follow your own service's absence-reporting procedure.

Related HSE leave guides

Frequently asked questions

How many self-certified sick days can HSE employees take?
Up to 7 days of uncertified sick leave in a rolling 12-month period. Beyond that — or for any absence longer than 7 consecutive days — a medical certificate is required.
Do I need a sick cert for one day off in the HSE?
Not usually — a single day can be self-certified if you still have uncertified days left in your rolling 12 months. You must notify your manager before your start time and complete the self-certification form on return.
Does self-certified sick leave affect my sick pay entitlement?
It counts toward your overall sick-leave record, which is assessed over a rolling 4-year period when calculating paid sick-leave entitlement — so frequent short absences do reduce what's available to you later.
What happens if I don't ring in before my start time?
The absence can be recorded as unauthorised leave rather than sick leave. Always notify your line manager or designate before your normal start time on each day you are out.

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