Additional support may be effectively provided through local employment retention and rehabilitation services ...

A number of further developments, described below, may promote a more rapid change. The e-fit note GPs have embraced IT in the UK and can record, prescribe, refer, advise, and even educate themselves during the consultation using the computer, but the fit note still requires pen and paper. However, a note generated from the GP’s computer and given to the patient (as with prescriptions) is planned for early 2012. This will make it easier to monitor and analyse the use of the fit note by GPs and will inevitably lead to changes in practice. Others signing the fit note Currently, only doctors can sign fit notes, and traditionally this is the patient’s own GP. Within the current guidelines, there is no reason why an independent doctor, working in an impartial role rather than that of advocacy, incumbent in that of the GP, should sign the notes. An example comes from the Leicester Fit for Work Service,