New regulations have been issued to enable registered nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists, and physiotherapists to issue fit notes.
This will extend the categories of people that can issue fit notes.
New statutory instrument
The new regulations will commence from 1 July 2022.
These regulations being Social Security (Medical Evidence) and Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2022 (SI.No.630/2022) amend the Social Security (Medical Evidence) Regulations 1976 and the Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) Regulations 1985.
The new regulations also make amendments to sets of regulations which refer to medical evidence as having been signed by doctors or registered medical practitioners.
The explanatory memorandum to the regulations advises that –
‘Currently only doctors can certify fit notes. This is not reflective of modern ways of multi-disciplinary working in healthcare where alternative healthcare professionals (HCPs) such as nurses often lead a patient’s diagnosis and healthcare management.
Expanding certification to a wider group of HCPs will better enable relevant HCPs to undertake health and work conversations to issue and certify fit notes without having to refer patients to their doctors.’
Commenting on the regulations, DWP Minister Chloe Smith said today –
‘The extension of fit note certification is fantastic news for patients, making it easier for them to get the support and advice they need from the right place, ensuring where possible that they are able to remain in work.’
These latest fit note changes recognise the valuable role other professions play in helping manage people’s health, and I hope this will also help reduce unnecessary bureaucracy for doctors and general practice more widely.’
This is welcome news for people struggling to provide fit notes for the DWP which can be a struggle for many.
SI.No.630/2022 is available from legislation.gov.uk
Source Rightsnet
Thanks to Rightsnet for providing this information.
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The poor side of life 
“… ensuring where possible that they are able to remain in work.”
That’s the top and bottom of it right there. They don’t want anyone to be off work due to any illness, sickness, disability, or excused from seeking work, hence the ridiculous “Fit note” nonsense when everyone knows it is supposed to be a SICK note! And what about mental illnesses, how are pharmacists and nurses supposed to diagnose that? We all know people who are having to claim out-of-work Benefits because they are unable to get the Sick notes they need, people who have no choice but to seek work and apply for jobs even though they are not well enough to work no matter what the DWP says. There are people with a list of ailments and health issues who are wrongfully classed as being ‘fit for work’ who should be on the sick.
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