subject: GP's Say Fit-Note System is a Flop [print this page] GP's Say Fit-Note System is a Flop GP's Say Fit-Note System is a Flop
It can be said that awareness of the fit-note system amongst GP's is still very limited even seven months after it was introduced. There seems to be a widespread belief amongst GP's that the system doesn't work and is failing to meet its objectives.
These are the findings from the fourth annual Health of the Workplace report. The report surveys GP's, employers and workers on topical issues and challenges that arise when it comes to workplace health.
The main aim of the fit-note scheme was that it was to encourage GP's and employers to work together to help sick employees with their medical conditions get back to work faster. However it was found that over 50% of GP's surveyed said that they now had less time with their patients and therefore can't provide the detailed diagnosis necessary.
It was found that 65% of GP's felt that they didn't possess the knowledge to create these fit-notes and 68% of people stated that they didn't feel that the system would get people back to work any faster. Other research carried out at the beginning of the year showed that it wasn't just GP's that were sceptical about the fit-note system and that it was employers and employees who were also unsure.
Dr Doug Wright from Aviva stated " I feel that we are missing a trick by not including occupational health in all of this, these are the missing puzzle piece and can bridge the gap between the knowledge and support needed between employers, HR managers, GP's and workers".
The British Medical Association agreed with the statement but said that as it stands occupational health is just too patchy to work. The big problem with that system is that only 1 out of 8 workers has access to an occupational health doctor, this situation needs to improve is the system is to work.
The survey also found that in private business, a lot of the time, business functionality and profitability were being put in front of employee health and motivation. Smaller companies were found to have a better approach though.
The recession and the announced spending cuts have added a lot of stress in the workplace, as well as a reduction in the number of moral boosting initiatives for employee. This is a big mistake, although businesses can only survive if they have profit, if workers and happy and healthy they will have far more loyalty to the company and employers will find their employee working a lot harder for them in the long run.
