Health & Safety Update (April 2010)

Fit Notes – Are you Prepared?

We informed you last month that the new Fit notes, replacing sick notes,  would come into effect during April. The launch of the new fit note means that instead of giving patients a sick note saying they are too ill to work, GPs will have to decide whether a person may be fit for work with some support, and what employers can do to help them return. This includes a phased return to work, altered hours, amended duties or workplace adaptations.

The initiative is designed to encourage employers to be more responsible regarding employee rehabilitation. It aims to help reduce the impact long-term sick leave has on UK businesses, which is estimated to cost the UK economy £17.3bn.

In addition, in the future, the note will be completed and stored electronically by the GP rather than handwritten, although it will still be given directly to the worker to send to the employer.

There will be no change to the basic purpose of the medical statement and it will still be used by employees as confirmation of illness if claiming sick pay.

The new medical statement will still be evidence that an employee cannot work due to injury or illness, and normally will not be required until after the 7th calendar day of sickness.

Changes

The form will now have two options. That the patient is 'not fit for work' or that the patient 'may be fit for work taking account of the following advice'. There will be four types of alterations listed which the GP can tick. These are: a phased return to work; altered hours; amended duties; workplace adaptations. There will be space for the doctor to provide more information on the condition and how it may affect what they do.