The Doctors’ Association UK (DAUK) has taken part in discussions with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about the future of fit notes.
GP co-leads Dr Sarah Jacques and Dr Steve Taylor attended the meeting on behalf of DAUK.
Ahead of the talks, DAUK surveyed GPs across the UK on the future of fit notes to ensure their views were represented.
Fit notes
We asked for their views on whether fit notes should be the remit of GPs, whether a new service should be responsible for them, and whether there should be a return to the Covid plan of four-weeks self certification, GP input after four weeks.
GPs were also asked if they would prefer patients to fully self certify for any illness, and whether refusing a fit not can impact the doctor/patient relationship.
The survey received 213 responses, which were all anonymised before being shared with the DWP.
It found:
- 69% of GPs said fit notes should not remain part of their remit
- 85% felt a new service should take responsibility for issuing fit notes
- 46% supported a return to four weeks self-certification
- 51% did not favour self-certification by patients
- 94% reported that refusing a fit note negatively affects the doctor/patient relationship
Dr Jacques and Dr Taylor said: “We are pleased that the voices of our members and of frontline general practice were heard in this important discussion.
Listening to GPs
“We welcome the DWP’s willingness to listen to GPs as they look at how fit notes could evolve.”
The discussions come as the Government undertakes a new pilot scheme to reform the way fit notes are issued.
The WorkWell Primary Care Innovation Fund is backed by £1.5 million across 15 regions.
The Government says the pilot scheme will look to find other ways to help people back into work.
Pilot scheme
DAUK’s GP committee member Dr Rosie Shire spoke on national radio about the scheme when it was launched last month.
Speaking on LBC, Dr Shire challenged assertions GPs ‘immediately write people off with a fit note’.
She said: “We want people to work and people do want to work, and that’s really important.”
DAUK’s GP committee will continue to engage with members and represent their views on this and other issues around general practice.
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