UK government hopes to introduce new “fit note” in 2009

doi:10.1136/bmj.a2745

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Ann McGauran

¹London

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 (€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 …