Changes to Existing GP Medical Certificate ‘Fit Note’

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No. 259/2010
Ref: PTC/MA/yh/015
Date: 26th March 2010


TO ALL BRANCHES


Dear Colleague


RE: Changes to Existing GP Medical Certificate ‘Fit Note’



Branches will be aware that LTB 158/2010 was issued on the 23rd February 2010 detailing changes to the existing GP Medical Certificate.


Royal Mail Group are issuing briefings for all Managers within Royal Mail Letters, Parcelforce and Post Office Limited setting out key information on the introduction of the new ‘Fit Note’ procedure.


The main changes to the existing sick note are:


A new option for the Doctor or GP to advise if an individual may be fit for work with some modifications to the work or work place
Space for a Doctor to provide information on how an individuals condition will effect what they do
Tick boxes for the Doctor to use to suggest common ways to help a return to work, these options are to return to work, altered hours, amended duties and or work place adaptations


The new ‘Fit Note’ is still not required until after the seventh calendar day of sickness, up until then sickness is still self certificated as it is now. Information on the form is still advice to the individual it is not an instruction to the employer and obligations under the disability discrimination act has not changed.


A meeting was held with Royal Mail Group on Monday the 22nd March 2010 and additional wording has been placed into all of our existing attendance procedure agreements to accommodate the new ‘Fit Note’ procedure. Branches should be aware that although additional wording has been placed into the procedures there are no other alterations in respect of how the attendance procedure should be applied. Royal Mail Group intend to produce a questions and answers document covering a whole range of questions that may materialise on the introduction of this new system. Once the business sends CWU Headquarters a copy of the questions and answers we will communicate a copy to all branches.


Any enquiries to Ray Ellis’s office, quoting reference PTC/MA/yh/015
Email address: rellis@cwu.org



Yours sincerely


Ray Ellis,
Assistant Secretary

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