GPs Don't Want 'Fit Notes' Role

[brothermagrew]

Less than 10 per cent of London GPs feel confident that they could operate the new style 'fit notes' system the government proposes to introduce in the spring of 2010. Londonwide LMCs, the organisation representing over 6,000 family doctors in the capital, says a 'staggering' 96 per cent of GPs have received no training regarding the new 'fit note' system and nearly threequarters do not think that the new system will be manageable in terms of both time and resources. It adds that 86 per cent of the capital's GPs 'are concerned about the implementation of a 'fit note' that would see them having to make judgments about complex areas of their patients working lives that they have little or no knowledge of.' Its survey of 452 GPs across London found 95 per cent do not feel that they are the appropriate person to complete fit notes and 81 per cent believe this role 'sits with occupational health doctors who are best able to make these complex judgements about a patient's ability to work in certain roles.' Dr Michelle Drage, joint chief executive of Londonwide LMCs, said: 'We are our patients' advocates and taking on this role would jeopardise that relationship. Ninety-five per cent of GPs in London don't think that they are the appropriate person to complete these fit notes, which the government propose to put in place by next spring. Making judgments about a person's ability to do certain types of work and not others has always been the role of the occupational health sector and over 81 per cent of GPs feel that this sector remains best placed to make these judgments.' She said the proposals need 'really serious reworking', adding: 'We are here to make assessments about our patients' illnesses, not divert our scarce resources into running an occupational health service for employers at our patients' and the taxpayers' expense.'

http://www.tuc.org.uk/h_and_s/tuc-17101-f0.cfm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.lmc.org.uk/news/press-releas ... ?dsid=5896" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/ ... atients.do" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[shadow]

I can see a few GP's getting sued here if someone is assesed as being fit then sent back to work and something bad happens to the patient.

[UNION IVOR]

I can see a few GP's getting sued here if someone is assesed as being fit then sent back to work and something bad happens to the patient.

yes good point , well said
i dont think any gp would want that hanging over them.

[General Mannerheim]

Atossers are already operating this `Fit Note` routine on people who are claiming Employment and Support Allowance or Incapacity Benefit.

I`ve had the dubious pleasure of Atossers telling me that I`m not fit for ANY job within Royal Mail and wanting me to retire and then going for a medical for Employment support and being told that I AM fit to return to work.WTF

Got told off somebody in the know that only 16% of new claimants are being passed and that you have to be like Stephen Hawkins or ready for the cemetary to actually get it,it`s so new Liebour and the soon to be kings Tories can bang on about getting people off sickness benefits.
At this medical I was asked such things like can you make a cup of tea,can you make a sandwich,can you get out of bed? Pisstaking bar stewards.
No i`m a meat popsicle springs to mind!