Government confirms: sick notes to be replaced by fit notes

Jennifer Chapman
Member - 31 posts

hee hee Nigel!

I wish they would - unfortunately we both know the answer!

However, it does seem, looking at the nitty gritty of the planned timetable that employers are 'gonna get help', whether they like it or not. OK so somebody may have to fall over first in order for the wheels to set in motion but if it then prevents one other person from having to do that thing .....

And one other person grows. Not overnight but like the drip drip drip of water on stone, lets look to the future.

And meanwhile the fallen-over person gets real help from the Ocupational Adviser in their GP surgery and prevents the GP of being scared to declare anyone 'unfit' for fear of them being sacked - OK the employer has to go through a procedure if they want to do that while you are sick but at the mo, no-one can really stop em. Now these lot are supposed to work together to stop that very thing - so the GP can now take clinical decisions on what's good for the patient - the thing that he IS trained to do in the first place.

I say hoorah!

Phill S
Member - 81 posts

Reading this scares me a little, I have just read the BBC News item on poor leadership causing bad health (also a thread here) and my first thought was are they going to get rid of bad management?

Of course not, this initiative will probably follow such ideas as BMI, which is an attempt to make sure everbody *looks* the same, something that has been tried before, regardless of their actual health, (Google "BMI project" or visit www.news-medical.net/?id=19530)

It certainly wont get to what is the main problem in many jobs, bullying, mis/discommunication, and poor work ethics.

Its not going to be a nurse taking your pulse, it IS most likely going to be a piece of paper with tick boxes - diversity not allowed.

Nigel Dupree
Member - 57 posts

'Compliance' - scary stuff if not a little controlling even Orwellian to say the least.

Tis for our own good of course along with biometrics, RFID chips, GPS tracking etc. etc. etc. no hidden agenda just wondering when gonna get an electronic debit on my account by way of fixed penalty for missing Doctors appoinment ?

Na never appen must be getting paranoid in my old age not stressed at all and don't feel threatened by adverts gonna crush my car if a couple days late with road tax or TV licence because "they know" where I am because an obalisk is following me in the dark shadows of buildings - na I'm fine never felt better.

Perhaps the flouride in the water is just a euphamism for Prozac and maybe they could add an indigestion tablet or two for those with heart burn and iritable bowel syndrome along with a little paracetamol for the headache and ibuleave for the back pain from sitting in front of flippin display screen for hours on end and then there is the risk of deep vain thrombosos as well so maybe jus a coctail of drugs will do and themn everyone will be happy happy happy.....

janet burton
Member - 107 posts

Turing fit notes into an attempt to make everyone the same or an argument against data records both seem way out to me.
The biggest problem with 'fit notes' is the same problem disabled people have now in getting a job - employers discriminate when employing staff. It is not the disability that keeps a lot of people claiming benefit, but the discrimination they face when looking for work.