Watson Esam | News | Fit Notes

'FIT NOTES' - JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED

The DWP says that evidence shows that work is generally good for our health and that often going back to work can actually aid a person's recovery.  On the other hand, staying off work can lead to long-term absence and job loss with the risk of isolation, loss of confidence, mental health issues, de-skilling and social exclusion.  The government believes that the introduction of its new medical statement can help, allowing doctors to advise people who are on sick leave for over 7 days on whether, with extra support from their employer, they could return to work earlier.  The DWP estimates that the change could benefit the British economy by £240m over the next ten years.

Commonly known as the "fit note", the new "Statement of Fitness for Work", will come into force on 6th April 2010.  Replacing the current sick note, the new statement will allow doctors to record whether someone is not fit for work or whether they may be fit for work under certain circumstances.  It enables the doctor to give advice about the effects of the patient's health condition and, if appropriate, some suggestions about the types of adjustment or adaptations that could be considered to help the employee to return to work.  Along with the opportunity for the doctor to make his own comments, a standard list of suggested benefits is included on the fit note:

• A phased return to work
• Altered hours
• Amended duties
• Workplace adaptations

The statement does not, however, contain an assertion that the employee is "fit for work".

An employer is not obliged to comply with the suggested adjustments if they are unable to do so and in this case the "fit note" should - for the purposes of sick pay - be considered as a statement by the doctor that the employee is not fit to work.  Obligations to pay statutory sick pay and make reasonable adjustments under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 will not change.

The maximum period a medical statement can cover will be reduced from six to three months during the first six months of a health condition.

The new "fit note" will be launched as a paper based system in the first instance, but it is envisaged that an electronic version will follow later in 2010, although the paper note will continue to exist along side it.

Back to Watson Esam's news page