From April 6 this year, those who are off work due to illness will be given a new ‘fit note’ which replaces the traditional ‘sick note’.
The ‘fit note’, which is completed by GPs, will have the option of suggesting that an employee is able to work, subject to temporary changes in their employment, such as reduced working hours or amended duties.
Welcoming the change, Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie said: “Evidence demonstrates that work has a positive effect on health. With the appropriate support of doctors and employers, people will be able to return to work sooner.
“The revised ‘fit note’ will help to achieve this by providing helpful information for people to discuss with their employer. This is also a good thing for the economy as it can help people to get back to work, rather than to continue on long-term sick absence.”
Making simple, practical adjustments to help people back to work at an earlier stage will benefit both the employer and the employee. This will help prevent long-term sickness absences and will ensure employers do not lose the expertise of their staff.
The Department for Social Development is advising doctors, employers and employees to visit http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/fitnote 
to find out more on the changes.
Notes to editors:
- Medical statements or ‘sick notes’ are issued by doctors to their patients for Statutory Sick Pay and social security benefit purposes.
- Dame Carol Black’s review of the health of the working age population ‘Working for a healthier tomorrow’ recommended that action should be taken to facilitate a revision of the existing medical statement to create a ‘fit note’. Dame Carol Black’s review was published in March 2008. Copies of the report can be found at http://www.workingforhealth.gov.uk/Carol-Blacks-Review
