New 'fit note' unveiled
May 28th 2009
A new medical 'fit note' to replace the current 'sick note' and help more people stay in work rather than drift into long term sickness has been unveiled today along with a twelve week consultation on its design.
Sickness absence resulted in about 172 million lost working days in 2007, and costs the British economy of over £100bn each year.
The new 'fit note' will enable people to get advice about staying in work, or what their employer can do to help them return to work sooner.
Lord Bill McKenzie, Work and Pensions Minister, said:
"Employers tell us that managing sickness absence can be a challenge. This is compounded by a 'sick note' system that makes sickness absence a black and white issue - either you are unfit for work or you are not.
"We recognise how important it is to help people who are sick to stay in work or get back to work quickly - the new fit note will help do just that."
Developed with the support of healthcare professionals, employer representatives and trade unions, the new 'fit notes' will roll-out across Great Britain in the Spring of 2010.
The goal is that under the new system 'fit notes' will be computer-generated in GPs surgeries, replacing the current hand written version.
The introduction of the 'fit note' forms part of the Government's response to Dame Carol Black's report into the health of Britain's working age population, which was published in March 2008.