Sick note rules are changing in July, the Labour Party government and NHS have confirmed. Ahead of Sir Keir Starmer stepping down as Prime Minister later this month, with Andy Burnham in line to replace him, the system is to be overhauled with four pilots across the country, including in Birmingham and the West Midlands, testing new changes.
Pilots to Test Personalised Support Plans
The four pilots will look at the best way to end this tick-box exercise which does not offer any support or guidance and replace it with personalised ‘stay in work’ and ‘return to work’ plans for workers who fall ill. The pilots will cover up to 100,000 appointments and last up to a year, with continuous testing, in order to narrow down the most effective approach to tackling the inherited steep increase in number of fit notes issued.
Details of the Four Pilots
From July, in Birmingham and Solihull, GPs issue the first fit note where needed, with all patients referred to a new support service led primarily by non-clinical staff, including social prescribers and work and health coaches. In Coventry and Warwickshire, GPs issue the first fit note, with patients able to be referred to a support service made up of both clinical and non-clinical staff. In Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, GPs refer patients directly to a non-clinical support service, without issuing a fit note. In Lancashire and South Cumbria, GPs refer patients to a support service made up of both clinical and non-clinical staff, without issuing a fit note.
Government and Ministerial Statements
Cabinet minister Pat McFadden said: "Fit notes are too often a dead end - a piece of paper that tells people they can’t work but does nothing to help them get better. We’re changing that. By bringing employers, the NHS, and patients together we can help people recover faster, stay connected to their jobs, and get the economy firing on all cylinders. That’s what these pilots are about, and that’s what this Government is committed to – fixing what is broken."
Minister of State for Care Stephen Kinnock said: "Ever since I was appointed Minister of State for Care in July 2024, NHS staff have been telling me that the current fit note system isn’t working – not for patients, and not for the clinicians who sign them off. These pilots mark the beginning of the end for that broken system, giving people personalised support to get back into work and freeing up GPs from unnecessary admin so they can focus on what they do best: caring for their patients. This is what our 10 Year Health Plan is all about – earlier support, from the right people, in the right place."
Impact on Workers and Economy
The changes aim to reduce the number of fit notes issued, which have seen a steep increase, and provide better support for workers to stay in or return to work. The pilots will inform a national rollout, with the goal of improving health outcomes and economic productivity.
