Government replaces GPs’ sick note with fit note

The government has replaced the sick note with the fit note this week in an attempt to get people back to work as soon as possible after illness.

Doctors will now give the new notes to staff who have been off work for more than seven days, which will detail whether they are fit for work and if there are certain aspects of their job they can still perform.

The government said: “With your employer’s support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.”

This new initiative is being introduced across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Manufacturer’s organisation EEF welcomed today’s changes, stating that it will bring benefits for businesses with its focus on what people can do, rather than what they cannot.

The organisation’s chief medical adviser Professor Sayeed Khan said the new fit note is “the right tool for modern medicine”.