Alan Johnson and the Well Notes

Alan Johnson has now decided that in order to tackle what he calls our 'sick note culture', doctors need to help by issuing 'well notes'.

An estimated 175m working days are lost to sickness each year, at a cost of £13bn. This shows that somthing needs to be done, but is this the answer?

I would say no, but this blog isn't about my opinions its about what every one else is saying. So, i'll start with what the BBC said when it covered the story.

Though the BBC is mostly impartial they do publish other peoples opinions. In a story dealing with this they published the view of Dr Peter Holden, of the BMA's GPs committee.

He said that GP's are often put in difficult positions when they have to decide whether to issue sick notes. He goes on to say that doing this is very different from deciding whether patients are ready to go back to work. He said "GPs should not be there to police the system."

Dr John Canning was quoted in the Independant's coverage of the story. He said that in his experience employers only want there employees back at work if they are fully fit. And so the current situation is in there interest.

Prof Khan said on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme however that he thinks no one likes the current situation and that it is worthwhile to try something new.

The Telegraph gave the story particularly negative coverage. One headline was "GP well notes 'doomed to fail', says doctor". This story focuses on the opinion of a doctor who was involved in drawing up the plans called Dr George Moncrieff, a GP, who practices in Oxfordshire.

He said Independent occupation health specialists should be introduced to adjudicate on sick notes instead of GPs. He also said that GPs central role in 'policing' the sick note system which they have had for sixty years has been counterproductive. So, he can't see how suddenly telling them to right well notes instead, could help.

Most of the opinion on this story seems to agree with me that this new well note system will probably not make much difference.