STORY
The Government has announced pilots to overhaul the fit note system in England, saying the current arrangements do not provide enough support for people who become ill, employers or healthcare professionals. The Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Health and Social Care said four pilots would test new approaches through selected NHS WorkWell sites and major employers.
The Government said around 11 million fit notes are issued each year, with more than nine in ten declaring the person not fit for work. The pilots will cover up to 100,000 appointments and run for up to a year, testing personalised “stay in work” and “return to work” plans. Patients may either receive an initial fit note from a GP before being referred to a support service, or be referred directly to a separate service staffed by clinical and non-clinical practitioners.
The pilots will begin from July in Birmingham and Solihull, Coventry and Warwickshire, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and Lancashire and South Cumbria. Ministers said the reforms are intended to reduce unnecessary GP administration while bringing together patients, employers and trained professionals to discuss adjustments and support. The Government said findings from the pilots will inform future legislation on fit note reform.