Changes to the existing GP medical certificate : 'fit note'

[POSTMAN]

23 February 2010
LTB 158/2010 - Changes to the existing GP medical certificate – “fit note”




No. 158/2010

Ref: PTC/MA/dj/015
Date: 23 February 2010






TO ALL BRANCHES

Dear Colleague

RE: Changes to the existing GP medical certificate – “fit note”

The government have decided to bring forward changes to the existing Med3 (sick note) procedure and introduce the new “fit note” certificate on the 6th April 2010.

Currently anyone who attends an interview with their GP following an absence of longer than 7 days would receive a Medical 3 certificate which gives advice to patients, a diagnosis and the duration of advice. No sign off is required. Following a report commissioned by the government, the current system is to be replaced with a new “fit note” which is intended to enable GPs to encourage an early return to work, where necessary on adjusted duties, by identifying what type of work, if any, the individual would be able to perform.

A meeting took place with Royal Mail on Monday, 15th February 2010 where all parties involved recognised that a number of key areas would need to be addressed to ensure a smooth introduction from the 6th April 2010 including ATOS changing their call centre approach, how it would be best communicated to all members of staff, how it will affect the attendance procedure.

The purpose of this LTB is to inform branches that once all the relevant parties have received formal guidance from the Department of Work and Pensions and an acceptable resolution has been reached on all other outstanding issues detailed communication will be immediately sent to all branches.

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

[spilie]

great government will soon make it illegal to be sick, no matter what the ailment you will be able to do something, they wil,l say "well come on even Mr Hawkins gets to work" another step on the slavery road

[General Mannerheim]

Atos changing it`s call centre approach...yeah where as before if your Dimwit or Atossers tried to force you back to work on light duties you could tell them to feck off, your GP will now be putting down something like can do light indoor work these arsewipes will be all over it and MAKE you come in.
These arsewipes already try it on as it is.

[slave]

Almost makes me want to be a scrounger on benefits, they get away with murder where the decent hard working people in this country get shafted, shafted and shafted some more.. Good old 'labour' government!

[wigglywoo12]

makes you sick dosent it some people really are ill and this government want you in work no matter what the circumstances