Update from Lindsey Hall, our occupational health consultant

“From the start of this month, GPs will begin to provide computer generated fit notes and I have attached the guidance for both employers and employees for information.  These will be the same design as the current note although on one side of A4 paper.  There will also be a unique barcode for identification reasons although interestingly this is not on the sample, which is linked from both of the above documents, therefore any notes provided to you without a code are likely to be spurious. “

“Some of you may already have had one or two but it is still early days.  Many GP surgery IT systems will need to come into line so I expect it to be some months before you see them in any numbers although the intention is for most practices to be using them by early 2013.”

Background from DWP / NHS

A fit note allows your GP to give you more information on how your condition affects your ability to work. This will help your employer to understand how they might help you return to work sooner or stay in work.

Your GP can give you advice to help you return to work or stay in work. This is because work can play an important part in helping people to recover from illness or injury.

From early July 2012, your GP may start to give you a computer-completed fit note, rather than a handwritten fit note. They will be printed on one side of A4 paper and will include the same information as handwritten fit notes, presented side by side rather than front and back.

Your GP may still give you a handwritten fit note, for example, during home visits or until your GP’s computer system has been upgraded.

Hospital doctors will continue to only use handwritten fit notes.

With the computer-completed or the handwritten fit note, your GP can choose one of two options:

• you are ‘not fit for work’
• you ‘may be fit for work’

The fit note also includes:

• more space for your GP to give general advice about how your illness or injury affects you
• tick boxes for your GP to suggest, where appropriate, ways in which your employer could support your return to work

What does ‘may be fit for work’ mean?

Your GP will choose the ‘may be fit for work’ option if they think that returning to work – with support from your employer – will help you recover.

Your GP can give general advice on the fit note about how your illness or injury may affect your ability to work. Discuss this advice with your employer to see if you can return to work. For example, your GP may suggest possible changes, such as:

• returning to work gradually, for example, by starting part-time
• working different hours temporarily
• performing different duties or tasks
• having other support to do your job, for example, if you have back pain, avoiding heavy lifting