Do Fit notes always Fit the Problem?

 

Minister Matt Hancock recently launched the NHS Long Term Plan that highlighted our need to address the high rates of employment sickness absence due to musculoskeltal (MSK) problems and/or mental ill health.

 

Let’s look at some stats: 9 to 10 million GP Fit Notes are signed annuallyin England alone. A colossal number, likely to be taking an inordinate amount of precious GP time, particularly when 80% of these are used by employees as evidence of their illness for their employer as required by HR policies. 93% of GP Fit notes say that the person is not fit for work. Surely it’s time for another approach that chimes with the upcoming changes in GP Surgeries?

 

Work related problems are mainly identified in GP surgeries which are already taking the strain of high patient demand with a shrinking workforce. So it is great news that the NHS Long Term Plan sets out to expand the multi disciplinary team (MDT) workforce in GP surgeries to help meet demand. Ambitious pilots using allied health professionals (AHPs) like occupational therapists, paramedics and physiotherapists have shown safe, cost effective results that patients and families welcome. Seeing an AHP as a First Contact Practitioner from your GP surgery is going to become more the norm.

 

Which leads me back to my question….do Fit Notes always fit the problem? So, if you were off work, would you use a confidential work clinic based in your GP surgery? You may be surprised to learn that a growing number of patients are doing just this and using newly opened clinics in Southampton and South Pembrokeshire. Occupational Therapy Led Vocational Clinics are for people who are in employment and struggling with MSK and/or mental health problems. A safe space where they can talk through what work difficulties they face and how these may be resolved. Everybody gets an AHP Health and Work Report which can be shared with the employer with advice about how work modifications could keep the person in work.

 

  • Does the patient get individualised work and symptom management advice? Yes
  • Does the employer get more detailed, accurate info about how to support staff? Yes
  • Can the employer use the AHP Health and Work Report as evidence for statutory sick pay? Yes.
  • Does it cut down on GP time writing GP fit notes? Yes but …

 

…..to embed this new approach, we need employers to understand that there are alternatives to the traditional GP Fit Note. If they and the employee want to use alternative evidence than the GP fit note, this is available now and the legislation allows it.

 

So the question for employers may be ….would you prefer a detailed report saying how someone can stay at work by an AHP or a GP fit note just saying they are not fit for work? The answer will depend on the clinical situation of course, but the AHP Health and Work Report can provide the clear instructions that employers often crave.

 

Full results of the Occupational Therapy Led Vocational Clinics will be available in March 2020. These Clinics are one of 19 initiatives across the UK selected to receive funding from the Work and Health Challenge Fund.

 

#OTVoc.

#WHChallengeFund

Genevieve Smyth

Professional Adviser

Royal College of Occupational Therapists