The New Sick Note

The Goverment has now changed the way GP's issue sick notes....Below is a extract from Direct Gov explaining the new note which is now called the Fit Note.

The fit note replaces the sick note. It is the new form that your doctor will give you when your health affects your ability to work. Find out how the fit note can help you and your employer manage your return to work after illness or injury.


Replacing the sick note
What has changed?

The fit note allows your doctor to provide you with more information on how your condition affects your ability to work. This will help your employer to understand how they might be able to help you return to work sooner.

The changes mean that your doctor can:

* advise when you may be fit for work with some support
* suggest common ways to help you return to work
* give information on how your condition will affect what you can do

What stays the same?

The fit note can still be used as evidence for why you cannot work due to illness or an injury. You still won't need the fit note as evidence until after your seventh calendar day of sickness.

If you need to apply for benefit the rules and processes have not changed. If your doctor has recommended that you 'may be fit for work' you can still apply for benefit.

The requirements for the payment of Statutory Sick Pay have not changed. If your doctor recommends that you 'may be fit for work', and you and your employer agree that you should remain off work, you should still get Statutory Sick Pay.


Understanding your fit note

When your doctor provides you with a fit note they will advise you of one of two options. You will either be 'not fit for work' or you 'may be fit for work'.
'Not fit for work'

Your doctor will choose this option when they believe that your health condition will prevent you from working for a stated period of time.
'May be fit for work'

Your doctor will choose this option when they believe that you may be able to return to work whilst you recover with some help from your employer.

Your doctor is able to include some comments which will help your employer understand how you are affected by your condition. If appropriate, they can also suggest one or more common ways to help you return to work.

This could include:

* a phased return to work - where you may benefit from a gradual increase in your work duties or working hours, for example following an operation or after injury
* altered hours - allowing you the flexibility to start or leave later, for example if you struggle travelling in the 'rush hour'
* amended duties - to take into account your condition, for example removing heavy lifting if you have had a back injury
* changes to your workplace - to take into account your condition, for example allowing you to work on the ground floor if you have problems going up and down stairs

Discussing your fit note with your employer

If your doctor has indicated that you 'may be fit for work', the fit note will give your employer the information needed to begin a discussion on whether you can return to work.

If it is possible for you to return to work agree:

* how this will happen
* what support you will receive and for how long
* how your pay may be affected if you return to work on different hours or duties

Sometimes it may not be possible for your employer to make the changes required to help you return to work. If this is the case, you will not be able to return to work until you have further recovered. You can use the statement as if your doctor had advised you were 'not fit to work'. You will not need to see your doctor for a new fit note.
Disagreements with your employer about returning to work

If you do not agree with your employer on when and how you will return to work you should explain to them why you disagree. There may be issues which your employer was not aware of when they made their decision.

If you are a member of a trade union you may want to ask your union representative to help you with this conversation. Alternatively, you might want to seek support from a local advice centre, eg a Citizens Advice Bureau.

My Trip to the Walton Centre

Friday 9th April 2010 i was woke by the horrible tone of my alarm at 4 in the morning for my long journey to the Walton Centre Liverpool for my appointment at 9 am. Half 4 a slow walk to the bus station for my bus to Birmingham New street station to board my train at 6. All went well until i got on the train and to be told that there was a delay because of over running engineering works on the tracks between Birmingham and Wolverhampton, 15 minutes all together. A long and boring journey stopping at every station along the way. Finally reached the wonderful station of Liverpool Lime Street. Down the steps into the bowels of Liverpool to get my underground train bound for Fazakerly. Reached my destination at 08:50 and Bang on 9 for my appointment.
Now three weeks prior i had received a letter from the Walton Centre saying i had a appointment to see a Neurologist, not who i had asked my GP to see. I called the Walton Centre two weeks before the appointment and explained that i had asked my GP to refer me to a Neurosurgeon who had been recommended. They told me i had to get my GP to do another referral for the NS in question, this i did. Again i received another appointment with the same time and date and the same neurologist. Back on the phone to the Walton and they did tell me that the referral had been received to the NS i had asked for but there was a thirteen week wait. Thursday 8th April, the day before my first appointment which was incorrect, i called the Walton Centre to ask if that appointment had been canceled to which there reply was no. I asked them if it would be worth my visit as i was getting desperate, they told me it would be worth while as i may get the answers i needed. Upon my arrival to the Centre i was told to sit and wait in the allotted area. I was finally called in at 09:40, forty minuets later than i was expecting.I got to see a Professor of Neurology, not the person i had been told i would be seeing, although i cannot speak highly of this Professor, a true professional and a thoroughly nice chap. he sat me down and told me that it was beyond the help of a neurologist and that i had to see a Neurosurgeon ( what had i said all along ). I could feel my blood starting to boil as this had been a long journey and felt i had waisted my time ). He stopped me in my tracks and said that the NS i had asked to see was in the building doing his tour of the wards and would call him to see if he could fit me in. I was thrilled with this and hoped for the best. Finally 10:30 the NS came to see me. What a lovely man, again cannot speak highly enough about him. He answered all the questions i had for him, he told me that all the damage i had received to my nerves was irreversible. He looked at my old scans pre op and told me that i had a syrinx in my brain stem ( I had not been told this before ) and that i also had a syrinx in the thoratic area of my spine ( i knew about this but thought nothing more of this) He told me that i really should have had a full MRI ( not what i had )and that he would like to investigate it further in case something else had caused the Syrinx there, he did say that he may not find anything. He explained that all the symptoms i was getting was typical of Syringomyelia. I was beginning to think i was imagining it as my first NS told me that this is not the case. I walked away not only a bit saddened regarding the fact i will have to live with these problems for the rest of my life, but also happy ,knowing this now at least i can work around it, Make the most of my good days and listen to my body and rest on my bad days, also regarding work, i can at least now find something working from home or part time, i will have to wait and see. My Family are a bit sad about it but i am not, it is a relief really. I am sure you all understand. The day was perfect for me , i managed to get to see the NS i asked for in less than thirteen weeks and had all the answers i needed. The NS has also wrote a letter to my GP explaining all of what we spoke about that day and has asked him to refer me for another MRI, This time a full one, and in my home town rather than make that journey again. He said that when i have had it, to get the images put on disk and send them up to him so he can take a look, he would then call me with the results and tell me if i needed further surgery, this again will save me a journey. So in all a good day, over the moon so far.
I made the most of the rest of my day by taking a look round Liverpool and visiting the local attractions. Although all of the traveling and walking around with my trusted walking stick has put me in bed for the last two days, riddled with pain.
I am so happy with the Walton Centre and have heard good and bad reports about it, every ones story is different. A+