Published 26 November 2008, doi:10.1136/bmj.a2745
Cite this as: BMJ 2008;337:a2745

News

UK government hopes to introduce new "fit note" in 2009

Ann McGauran

1 London

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

A package of support to help people stay in work, including a new electronic "fit note" to stop them drifting into extended sick leave, was announced by the government this week.

The plans, jointly launched by the work and pensions secretary, James Purnell, and the health secretary, Alan Johnson, come in response to Carol Black’s report this March into the health of the United Kingdom’s population of working age. The Black review said that the cost to the UK economy of ill health in working age is at least £100bn ({euro}120bn; $150bn) a year (BMJ 2008;336:631, doi:10.1136/bmj.39524.523403.DB).

The government’s report says that the fit note is more user friendly and will help employers and employees have better access to timely information about when and how to return to work.

A pilot of the electronic fit note is already underway in Wales. Throughout the United Kingdom a . . . [Full text of this article]


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