Dr Russell BrownDr Russell BrownDr Russell BrownDr Russell BrownGP, Manor Park Medical Centre, PolegateGP, Manor Park Medical Centre, PolegateGP, Manor Park Medical Centre, PolegateGP, Manor Park Medical Centre, Polegate

Fit notesFit notesFit notesFit notesYour role in their writing...Your role in their writing...Your role in their writing...Your role in their writing...

The Fit noteThe Fit note

•Actually called a "revised Form Med3"

•Replaced the old sick notes in 2010

•It is your duty to provide one on request, as well as the nurses providing a yellow Med10, not instead

•Guidance at:

•http://tinyurl.com/hospitalfitnote

Why me?Why me?

•If not you, then who?

•Me? Not necessary!

•To be honest, me doing them is a waste of my time and the patient's

•So: YOU!

Ok, when?Ok, when?

•At discharge

•Plan it in to departmental discharge procedures (please!)

•Maybe even plan it in to admission procedures?

•Logically, at the same time as the discharge letter

•Every patient: even if "retired", may well still be working

But we haven't got any...

But we haven't got any...

•Then get some ordered. Only requirement is headed paper and a fax machine.

•Hospital faxes/emails request to DWP asking for however many pads are needed (I would suggest “lots” and that this is done by admin team)

•Ordering details at http://tinyurl.com/orderfitnotes

Ok, found one. How...Ok, found one. How...

•Have you read the guidance documents?

•http://tinyurl.com/hospitalfitnote

•Fill in diagnosis, how long you expect them to be off, sign and date.

•Slightly more complex if you think they “may be fit”, but only slightly, wait for the next few slides...

So just for 2 weeks then see Gp for longer if needed?

So just for 2 weeks then see Gp for longer if needed?

•No! For as long as you could reasonably expect the patient to be off work.

•So if your patient has had surgery that is likely to need 6 weeks off, sign them off for 6 weeks.

•Guidance on post-procedure time off at: http://tinyurl.com/howmuchtimeoff

•2 weeks and see Gp is a waste of my patient's time, please don't do it!

What if they MIGHT be fit...

What if they MIGHT be fit...

•See the guidance: http://tinyurl.com/hospitalfitnote

•It is advice, IF employer agrees and can accommodate it

•If they can't, the fit note still signs them off

SummarySummary

•It is your responsibility

•Ask everyone, even if you think they won’t need one

•Timing of note - as long as you expect it to take

•That's it!

•Guidance at http://tinyurl.com/hospitalfitnote

•Photo on front screen credit: Tom Hussey/Getty

•Presentation : Dr Russell Brown, GP Polegate, East Sussex