New sick note rules are being introduced in England after more than 11 million were issued last year, with the Labour government admitting it does not know why most people are being signed off work by GPs. The reforms aim to replace the current tick-box exercise with personalised 'stay in work' and 'return to work' plans.
Data Reveals Lack of Diagnosis in Most Sick Notes
More than 11 million sick notes were issued last year, and 93 per cent declared employees unfit to work. Of the 926,329 sick notes issued last December, 681,902 (73.6 per cent) listed the principal diagnosis as “not provided”. Similarly, of the 834,717 issued in June 2024, 603,525 (72.3 per cent) listed the principal diagnosis as “not provided”.
Political Reaction
Conservative MP Helen Whately, the shadow work and pensions secretary, criticised the government: “Labour know the fit note is fundamentally broken, and despite already sitting on this evidence for two years, they have done absolutely nothing to fix it. If they don’t know why someone is being signed off sick, how on earth will they help get them back to work? Fixing the system would free up GPs time, keep more people in work and stem the flow from fit note to welfare – better for everyone, not least the taxpayer.”
Pilot Programmes to Test New Approach
Four pilots in different areas of England will explore the best way to replace the current system. Patients will either receive an initial fit note from a GP and then be referred to community health workers, or go through the entire process without an initial fit note and instead be supported by a separate service staffed by clinical and non-clinical practitioners.
Government Response
A Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) spokesman said: “All fit notes contain a diagnosis but this is listed as ‘not provided’ because of the way the data is extracted and published. However, we know that poor data is just one of the many issues with the current fit note system. That’s why we’re piloting reforms to the broken fit note system, so it works better for patients, doctors and employers.”
