You can get a note giving you a month off work for £25 without seeing GP

Anyone needing to get time off work because of illness can secure a sick note online in a matter of minutes without speaking to a doctor - just by filling in a form and handing over as little as £25. As Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announces a new crackdown on long-term sickness the Daily Mail had a reporter see how easy it is to get time off work.

Health editor Barney Calman Googled how to get a sick note and then contacted two companies. For the first he requested time off work saying he had 'stress' and was asked to send a 30-second video detailing his symptoms. After paying £44 he was sent a formal document signed by a GP giving him one month off work.

He contacted a second company, filled in a short form and paid £25 for an official document signed by a pharmacist authorising time off work.

Barney write: "I suppose if I was unwell, I would have appreciated the simplicity and speed of the process." He added: "But without proper checks and balances, there will undoubtedly also be those who take advantage of such a lax system."

A sick note, can be issued by many health care professionals, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and therapists. Rishi Sunak wants to change the system to limit who can sign a sick note to cut down on the number of people claiming long-term sickness and the DWP benefits that come with it.