GPs may be encouraged to recommend people with long-term sickness return to work and therefore reduce the number of fit notes in Government plans described as ‘ridiculous’ by the BMA.
The Treasury and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are looking into a new approach for GPs that seeks to increase the number of people in work, according to The Daily Telegraph’s reporting last night.
But the BMA has criticised this suggestion with Dr Kieran Sharrock, acting chair of the GP Committee, saying it ‘undermines [GPs’] expertise as doctors and puts patients and the wider community at risk’.
Whitehall ‘insiders’ who spoke to the Telegraph said they believe GPs could do more to advise those with long-term sickness on how to get back to work by identifying the necessary structures and support.
This policy idea is part of the Government’s drive to boost the economy by reducing the levels of economic inactivity in the workforce following the pandemic, the reports stated.
Under these plans, GPs may be encouraged to promote the benefits of returning to work along with advising on the support necessary, with a Government source saying ‘the mental health benefits of work are well established’.
Almost 2.5 million people were ‘economically inactive’ due to long-term illness between June and August 2022, compared with just under 2.1 million people over the same period in 2019, according to figures from the Labour Force Survey.
However, this dataset also shows that most ‘inactive’ people last year were already out of the labour market but had previously reported another main reason for their inactivity.
Responding to the plan for GPs to reduce fit notes, Dr Sharrock said: ‘It is ridiculous for ministers to believe that practice staff should instead recommend ways that sick patients can continue to work with support; this will merely increase the workload for already over-stretched teams as well as creating undue stress and possible longer periods of poor health for a patient.’
Earlier this month, Government plans emerged to station job coaches in GP surgeries to hold sessions aimed at getting over-50s back to work which would boost the economy.
Dr Sharrock added that ‘it is not the responsibility of anyone in general practice to implement Government economic policy’ and that GPs’ ‘responsibility is to look after patients’.
The burden of fit notes on GPs has been somewhat reduced over the last year with the removal of the signature requirement, and a wider range of professionals being able to sign them off.
When asked about this potential fit note policy, DWP spokesperson said: ‘We’re considering a range of factors to address inactivity, and further details on this will be set out in due course.
‘We wouldn’t comment on speculation ahead of the completion of the Workforce Participation review.’
Dr Sharrock also highlighted that the Government should focus on addressing the ‘root cause’ of the increase in people off work with long-term sickness, such as the cost-of-living crisis.
Obviously in between the commitment to running/managing a “virtual ward”
TTFO comes to mind.
By the way no coach will get this over 50 year old back to GP land.
As Blackadder might say “I spurn ye as I would a rabid dog”
Thinking GPs should do this, is another example of what Ivan illich described as “expropriation of health”.
We are not, and should never be, a health service.
We are an illness service. We specialise in illness. I used to think this was an old fashioned view. I’m now unapologetic in holding it.
Health belongs to everyone. Not doctors, not the NHS, not the Department of Health. Everyone.
The alternative is we set ourselves up as gatekeepers of “health” which is untenable.
That said, I do wonder how much progress we (as a species) have really made on the “5 giants”; idleness, ignorance, disease, squalor and want.
Note “disease”, not health – that’s our bit, and it’s more than enough without us getting involved in the other 4!
No worries.
Noctors will give you the sicknote that your doctor refused.
Exactly the same as with antibiotics.
medicalisation is often blamed on ‘the medical profession’
Clearly the whole of society and all its problems are to be solved by doctors.
A profit based medical profession might welcome more activity, but even they might be surprised at this.
Is it that because they can’t get rid of the NHS they just want it to do everything?
Are they still refusing to hear the message that a lot of the ‘economic inactivity’ is due to risk of covid, and if they managed the pandemic better, many of those older, experienced, people, would be happy to go back to work if the risk of illness reduced!
Fit note/Sick note is nothing to do with me, I just put down what the punter says (provided there is evidence)
At the end of the day its between them and their employer how much time they have off.
Excellent idea.
Whilst you’re thinking we should reduce our fit note writing, why not just stop us GPs doing them altogether because they are the bane of my life!
I suspect no,
So will you be providing us with personal protection when patient get physically as well as verbal abuse?
I suspect no again.
Will you accept direct complaints from patients whom have been refused for notes by us? I will be suggesting they write to their local MP regarding this Governmental request.
I suspect no again
Hmmm. Maybe not such an excellent idea?!