Not a simple answer

doi:10.1136/bmj.b3972

Published 29 September 2009, doi:10.1136/bmj.b3972
Cite this as: BMJ 2009;339:b3972

Letters

From sick notes to fit notes

Not a simple answer

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

Fit notes look simple but are likely to be problematic for employers,employees, and general practitioners.¹

I have been a general practitioner since 1974 and a part-timefactory medical officer for the main local employer for over20 years. Knowing the nature of my patients’ tasks atwork makes advising on returning to work after sick leave mucheasier and more useful. In the occupational health departmentI can advise on graded work to enable return to full functionin the shortest time—to the benefit of employees and employer.Knowing all the local general practitioners, I can advise them,subject to consent, how to help their patients to return towork as early as possible. Departmental managers usually accommodateany initial restrictions or arrange alternative work if available,and occupational health nurses are invaluably supportive.