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Bid to tackle 'sick-note culture' Bid to tackle 'sick-note culture'
(about 1 hour later)
Health secretary Alan Johnson is expected to set out his plans for changing what he calls the sick-note culture into a "well-note culture". health secretary Alan Johnson is expected to set out plans for changing what he calls the sick-note culture.
He wants the GP certificate used for signing people off to put more emphasis on what work people could still do. He will urge GPs to issue "well notes" setting out what tasks a worker can perform instead of certificates automatically signing them off.
And he will encourage employers to run health clinics in a bid to cut the estimated 175m working days lost to sickness each year, at a cost of £13bn.And he will encourage employers to run health clinics in a bid to cut the estimated 175m working days lost to sickness each year, at a cost of £13bn.
But doctors' leaders say GPs should not be used to "police the system".But doctors' leaders say GPs should not be used to "police the system".
Pilot schemePilot scheme
Mr Johnson is due to give a speech to the British Heart Foundation on Wednesday.Mr Johnson is due to give a speech to the British Heart Foundation on Wednesday.
He will say firms such as British Gas and Parcelforce have seen reduced sickness rates after running advice sessions to manage back pain and mental health problems.He will say firms such as British Gas and Parcelforce have seen reduced sickness rates after running advice sessions to manage back pain and mental health problems.
GPs should not be there to police the system Dr Peter Holden, of the British Medical Association What role should GPs play?GPs should not be there to police the system Dr Peter Holden, of the British Medical Association What role should GPs play?
But it is the changes to the GP sick certificate, to be piloted in the summer, which will prove most controversial.But it is the changes to the GP sick certificate, to be piloted in the summer, which will prove most controversial.
Along with these changes, GPs will also be expected to offer patients advice about what they can do to get fit for work.Along with these changes, GPs will also be expected to offer patients advice about what they can do to get fit for work.
BenefitsBenefits
The announcements come ahead of a publication in March of a report by Dame Carol Black, the national director for health and work, who is looking at the issue.The announcements come ahead of a publication in March of a report by Dame Carol Black, the national director for health and work, who is looking at the issue.
The "sick-note culture" is also seen as the gateway to incapacity benefit.The "sick-note culture" is also seen as the gateway to incapacity benefit.
GPs are responsible for signing people off for the first six months, before they are formally passed on to the centrally-administered incapacity benefits system.GPs are responsible for signing people off for the first six months, before they are formally passed on to the centrally-administered incapacity benefits system.
The UK has one of the highest proportion of people on incapacity benefit in Europe after numbers have more than trebled since the 1970s to 2.7m.The UK has one of the highest proportion of people on incapacity benefit in Europe after numbers have more than trebled since the 1970s to 2.7m.
The system is due to be reformed later this year when claimants will be expected to take part in programmes aimed at getting them back into work.The system is due to be reformed later this year when claimants will be expected to take part in programmes aimed at getting them back into work.
Mr Johnson will say: "The evidence shows that far from being bad for health, work is generally good for people's health.Mr Johnson will say: "The evidence shows that far from being bad for health, work is generally good for people's health.
"We want to explore what else GPs can do to change our sick-note culture into a well-note culture.""We want to explore what else GPs can do to change our sick-note culture into a well-note culture."
Missed opportunityMissed opportunity
But Dr Peter Holden, of the BMA's GPs committee, says: "GPs are often placed in a difficult position between their patients and the system when issuing sick notes in the early stages of illness.But Dr Peter Holden, of the BMA's GPs committee, says: "GPs are often placed in a difficult position between their patients and the system when issuing sick notes in the early stages of illness.
"Confirming that a patient is unwell is very different from making a judgement on whether someone is well enough to do their job."Confirming that a patient is unwell is very different from making a judgement on whether someone is well enough to do their job.
"This may be determined by a host of other non-medical factors concerning the equipment they are using or the physical environment in which they work. GPs should not be there to police the system.""This may be determined by a host of other non-medical factors concerning the equipment they are using or the physical environment in which they work. GPs should not be there to police the system."
The TUC said the proposals appeared to be a "missed opportunity" and that the government should focus on making the system more flexible for people to return to work gradually without losing all their benefits straight away.The TUC said the proposals appeared to be a "missed opportunity" and that the government should focus on making the system more flexible for people to return to work gradually without losing all their benefits straight away.
It also called for improvements to rehabilitation services and more investment in preventing people becoming ill in the first place.It also called for improvements to rehabilitation services and more investment in preventing people becoming ill in the first place.
But the Confederation of British Industry said the current sick notes were "outdated, inflexible and in need of an overhaul".But the Confederation of British Industry said the current sick notes were "outdated, inflexible and in need of an overhaul".