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.