DWP issues revised fit-note guidance

Safety & Health Practitioner

The Government has published updated guidance on the use of fit notes to assist workers on sick leave return to work.

The guidance advises doctors on how they can give the most useful advice about what patients can do at work and how they can return to the workplace as soon as possible. Examples of advice could include exploring a period of home working, or implementing different methods of working.

Based on research and feedback from patients, GPs and employers, the guidance is designed around the principle of looking at what a person can do, rather than what they can’t. It also clarifies that the fit note is about someone’s general fitness for work and is not tied to their most recent job, allowing flexibility to discuss what changes could help someone do some work.

Features of the guidance include:

• improved question and answer sections based on common queries;
• an explanation of how a fit note indicates whether a patient is expected to be fit for work when it expires;
• ideas for patients and employers about possible changes to accommodate the advice in the fit note;
• clarification about the legal status of the fit note in relation to sick pay, situations where an employer cannot make any changes, and non-medical problems at work;
• details about the computer-generated fit note; and
• more information on further resources, with links to DWP programmes, as well as charity and occupational-health support.

Dr Bill Gunnyeon, chief medical advisor for the Department for Work and Pensions, said: “The fit note can be valuable in helping people return to work quickly and avoid long-term absence and potential job loss – this revised guidance helps doctors, employers and patients use it to its full potential.”

The revised guidance for employers, patients and GPs is available at www.dwp.gov.uk/fitnote

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