Nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists and physiotherapists will be able to certify notes for the app, as well as GPs from July 1, in a bid to reduce pressure on NHS GPs and ‘cut red tape’ . Fit Notes provide employers with information about an individual’s absence and any relevant advice on how to support their employees to stay or return to work. But with GP services so extensive, getting notes suitable for some staff was difficult. The updated guidance sets out how to support people to stay in work while managing a health condition. Ministers said the change – which applies across England, Scotland and Wales and is mirrored in Northern Ireland – will make it easier to get advice certified by the most relevant health professional. Want a quick and special update on the biggest news? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out what you need to know. People will no longer need to be sent to a doctor to have an appropriate note signed when they see and receive treatment from an alternative practitioner for their health condition. Chloe Smith, Minister for Disability, said: “Having a health condition doesn’t have to put you out of work. This change will make it easier for people and employers to get the advice they need so people can stay in work, while also reducing red tape and freeing up doctors’ time. “Too often we see people go through unnecessary challenges to get a proper note. More professionals able to provide this vital service will speed up the process and support people to return to or stay in work.” Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Reducing red tape is key to ensuring more patients can see their doctor quickly and get the care they need as we tackle the Covid backlog.” Wendy Preston, head of nursing practice at the Royal College of Nursing, described it as a “positive step”: “Nursing staff are often the first people that patients see, particularly in primary care, and especially for those living with a long-term condition who may need time to manage their condition at times.” Abigail Maino, partner in the employment team at law firm DMH Stallard, said: “Fit notes are not designed solely to confirm that an employee is unable to work; they can suggest appropriate support and adjustments to enable the employee to remain or to return to In practice, suggestions for support or adjustments are uncommon. “If workers are able to receive an assessment from a more specialist health professional, such as a physiotherapist, then we would hope that more personalized advice could be given through the fit note, reducing an employee’s time away. “Whether this will happen in practice remains to be seen, as workers are still likely to contact their doctor in the first instance for an appropriate note.”
