The UK government has released guidance for healthcare professionals and their employers on who can issue statements of fitness for work, or fit notes. Until July 2022, only doctors were legally permitted to certify fit notes. Now, nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists, and physiotherapists are permitted to certify fit notes, taking into consideration their own scope of practice, skills, knowledge, and experience before doing so. "Enabling a wider range of HCPs 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 HCPs can engage more directly with patients on matters of work and health without having to re-route requests to certify fit notes through doctors."
July 27, 2022
