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Changes brought in by the Department of Work and Pensions will allow nurses, pharmacists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists to issue fit notes to patients in a bid to relieve pressure on doctors.
In support of this new guidance, Health Education England is offering training for these healthcare professionals via an e-learning platform.
The training programme will be available on Health Education England’s website, where professionals will also be able to find guidance to support all healthcare professionals issuing fit notes to feel confident and able to do so appropriately.
HEE and DWP hope this new change will make it quicker and simpler for patients needing to certify time off work for illness or injury as well as helping to reduce the burden on doctors who currently issue fit notes.
Utilising the skills of nurses, pharmacists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists
Mark Radford, Deputy CEO and Chief Nurse at Health Education England, said: “We welcome this change in the law and also the opportunity to develop services more flexibly and build on the skills of expert nurses, pharmacists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.
“Health Education England has been leading with other nations to allow these changes to be made across the United Kingdom and make the training easily accessible to staff who wish to develop these new skills.”
Christian Brailsford, Regional Head of Nursing for the South West at Health Education England, said: “I welcome the news that the ability to issue fit notes is being extended to other professions.
“Enabling nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists and physiotherapists to certify fit notes offers benefits for patients and the healthcare system and better recognises innovations in using a multi-disciplinary workforce to support patients.
“These healthcare professionals can engage more directly with patients on matters of work and health without having to re-route requests to certify fit notes through doctors.”
