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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Bid to tackle 'sick-note culture' | Bid to tackle 'sick-note culture' |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Health Secretary Alan Johnson says he wants to see doctors take a lead in tackling the sick-note culture. | |
| He has urged GPs to issue "well notes" setting out what tasks a worker can perform instead of certificates automatically signing them off. | He has urged GPs to issue "well notes" setting out what tasks a worker can perform instead of certificates automatically signing them off. |
| And he has encouraged employers to run health clinics in a bid to cut the estimated 175m working days lost to sickness each year, at a cost of £13bn. | And he has encouraged employers to run health clinics in a bid to cut the estimated 175m working days lost to sickness each year, at a cost of £13bn. |
| But doctors' leaders said GPs should not be used to "police the system". | But doctors' leaders said GPs should not be used to "police the system". |
| They said if GPs were brought in to play such a proactive role it could damage the doctor-patient relationship. | They said if GPs were brought in to play such a proactive role it could damage the doctor-patient relationship. |
| Pilot scheme | Pilot scheme |
| Mr Johnson, whose department is responsible for health in England, is due to give a speech to the British Heart Foundation on Wednesday. | Mr Johnson, whose department is responsible for health in England, is due to give a speech to the British Heart Foundation on Wednesday. |
| He said firms such as British Gas and Parcelforce have seen reduced sickness rates after running advice sessions to manage back pain and mental health problems. | He said firms such as British Gas and Parcelforce have seen reduced sickness rates after running advice sessions to manage back pain and mental health problems. |
| GPs should not be there to police the system Dr Peter Holden, of the British Medical Association What role should GPs play? | GPs should not be there to police the system Dr Peter Holden, of the British Medical Association What role should GPs play? |
| But it is the changes to the GP sick certificate, to be piloted in the summer, which are proving most controversial. | But it is the changes to the GP sick certificate, to be piloted in the summer, which are proving most controversial. |
| Along with these changes, GPs will also be expected to offer patients advice about what they can do to get fit for work. | Along with these changes, GPs will also be expected to offer patients advice about what they can do to get fit for work. |
| The announcements come ahead of a publication in March of a report by Dame Carol Black, the national director for health and work, who is looking at the issue. | The announcements come ahead of a publication in March of a report by Dame Carol Black, the national director for health and work, who is looking at the issue. |
| Benefits | Benefits |
| The "sick-note culture" is also seen as the gateway to incapacity benefit. | The "sick-note culture" is also seen as the gateway to incapacity benefit. |
| GPs are responsible for signing people off for the first six months, before they are formally passed on to the centrally-administered incapacity benefits system. | GPs are responsible for signing people off for the first six months, before they are formally passed on to the centrally-administered incapacity benefits system. |
| The UK has one of the highest proportion of people on incapacity benefit in Europe after numbers have more than trebled since the 1970s to 2.7m. | The UK has one of the highest proportion of people on incapacity benefit in Europe after numbers have more than trebled since the 1970s to 2.7m. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYOf course GPs should take responsibility for ensuring that only people who are genuinely ill are signed off as 'sick' Chris, UKSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYOf course GPs should take responsibility for ensuring that only people who are genuinely ill are signed off as 'sick' Chris, UKSend us your comments |
| The system is due to be reformed later this year when claimants will be expected to take part in programmes aimed at getting them back into work. | The system is due to be reformed later this year when claimants will be expected to take part in programmes aimed at getting them back into work. |
| Mr Johnson said the evidence showed that far from being bad for health, work is generally good for people's health. | Mr Johnson said the evidence showed that far from being bad for health, work is generally good for people's health. |
| He said: "We are not asking GPs to police the benefits system and we are not suggesting that GPs shouldn't sign sick notes." | He said: "We are not asking GPs to police the benefits system and we are not suggesting that GPs shouldn't sign sick notes." |
| He said too many people ended up drifting on to incapacity benefit via the sick note system. | He said too many people ended up drifting on to incapacity benefit via the sick note system. |
| "If we can stop that and help people back into work that is a good thing. That is what we are trying to do and I don't think the current sick note system helps with that." | "If we can stop that and help people back into work that is a good thing. That is what we are trying to do and I don't think the current sick note system helps with that." |
| Missed opportunity | Missed opportunity |
| But Dr Peter Holden, of the BMA's GPs committee, says: "GPs are often placed in a difficult position between their patients and the system when issuing sick notes in the early stages of illness. | But Dr Peter Holden, of the BMA's GPs committee, says: "GPs are often placed in a difficult position between their patients and the system when issuing sick notes in the early stages of illness. |
| "Confirming that a patient is unwell is very different from making a judgement on whether someone is well enough to do their job. | "Confirming that a patient is unwell is very different from making a judgement on whether someone is well enough to do their job. |
| "This may be determined by a host of other non-medical factors concerning the equipment they are using or the physical environment in which they work. GPs should not be there to police the system." | "This may be determined by a host of other non-medical factors concerning the equipment they are using or the physical environment in which they work. GPs should not be there to police the system." |
| The TUC said the proposals appeared to be a "missed opportunity". | The TUC said the proposals appeared to be a "missed opportunity". |
| A spokesman said the government should focus on making the system more flexible for people to return to work gradually without losing all their benefits straight away. | A spokesman said the government should focus on making the system more flexible for people to return to work gradually without losing all their benefits straight away. |
| It also called for improvements to rehabilitation services and more investment in preventing people becoming ill in the first place. | It also called for improvements to rehabilitation services and more investment in preventing people becoming ill in the first place. |