Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Pay & benefitsWellbeingOccupational HealthOpinionSick pay

Editor’s comment

by Personnel Today 7 Mar 2008
by Personnel Today 7 Mar 2008

We will have to get used to calling the sicknote the ‘well note’ following the recent announcement by health secretary Alan Johnson that GPs will have to stop signing people off sick, and instead write notes about the patient’s capacity to carry out workplace tasks.

A lot of OH practitioners feel sceptical about whether the well note will work. A letter to this journal from one OH adviser describes a scenario many of you will recognise: “I have tried to get the GP involved in early return with support, with not luck. This year, I am trying a new tack. Instead of writing to a GP to ask whether he will support any restricted early return and getting absolute silence, I am now writing to tell them I am arranging restricted early return and if they feel it’s inappropriate, they can contact me.”

The Jiscmail networking website has hosted a lively debate on this issue, raising many questions. Dr Gordon Parker, president of the Society of Occupational Medicine, argues: “The real issue is not getting GPs to do something ‘different’, but helping GPs to access support for their patients who can (and want to) return to some form of work. Both GPs and patients need to access support for their patients that occupational health doctors and nurses offer.”

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

In the government’s defence, OH doctors and nurses are in short supply. If the well note can at least stop GPs being an obstacle to return to work, it is worth supporting. At the moment, that is a big ‘if’.

Noel O’Reilly, editor

Personnel Today

Personnel Today articles are written by an expert team of award-winning journalists who have been covering HR and L&D for many years. Some of our content is attributed to "Personnel Today" for a number of reasons, including: when numerous authors are associated with writing or editing a piece; or when the author is unknown (particularly for older articles).

previous post
Public sector employers need to give staff more freedom to be creative
next post
Acas risks losing credibility if staff strikes go ahead

You may also like

Mansion House speech: will employers’ pension contributions rise?

15 Jul 2025

Two-thirds drink to cope with work stress and...

14 Jul 2025

Engineers prioritising benefits over pay

14 Jul 2025

Workers with second jobs at an all-time high

11 Jul 2025

Firms’ salary secrecy means ‘they lose out on...

10 Jul 2025

‘Frustrating’ that NHS Plan has overlooked OH, warns...

8 Jul 2025

Four in 10 call centre workers to quit...

8 Jul 2025

NHS 10-year Health Plan sets out vision for...

3 Jul 2025

Living wage pushes up spring pay settlements

2 Jul 2025

Third in north west fear ill health will...

2 Jul 2025

  • Empower and engage for the future: A revolution in talent development (webinar) WEBINAR | As organisations strive...Read more
  • Empowering working parents and productivity during the summer holidays SPONSORED | Businesses play a...Read more
  • AI is here. Your workforce should be ready. SPONSORED | From content creation...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today