{"id":48578,"date":"2014-10-10T14:15:00","date_gmt":"2014-10-10T14:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=777b2f391dcf609e6d30d2f6a167495f"},"modified":"2014-10-10T14:15:00","modified_gmt":"2014-10-10T14:15:00","slug":"press-release-gps-fit-for-work-will-help-patients","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=48578","title":{"rendered":"Press release: GPs: \u2018Fit for Work will help patients\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Fit for Work will start later this year to provide an occupational health assessment and health and work advice to employees, employers and GPs<\/abbr> to help people return to or stay in work after an illness. <\/p>\n

Minister for Welfare Reform, Lord Freud said: <\/p>\n

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Being in work is good for people\u2019s wellbeing and can help them to recover. Fit for Work will help employers and their staff to manage sickness absence and aid the return-to-work process and GPs<\/abbr> will play a vital role in referring patients they think will benefit from it. This research will build on the learning from the pilot to help us understand how GPs<\/abbr> will use this service and how we can support them in the future.<\/p>\n

Fit for Work is a result of the independent review of sickness absence and the government response which accepted the recommendation to introduce an independent assessment service.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The study, \u2018Exploring future GP<\/abbr> referral to Fit for Work\u2019, looks at how GPs<\/abbr> might signpost their patients to the assessment part of the support. Its publication coincides with the renaming of Health and Work Service to Fit for Work to more accurately reflect the nature and impact of the service. Most GPs<\/abbr> contacted for the study had a positive approach to the relationship between health and work.<\/p>\n

Other findings<\/h2>\n

Patients with longer fit notes and therefore off work for longer periods were deemed more suitable for referral to the service by their GPs<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

GPs<\/abbr> said they would be less likely to refer patients to Fit for Work with a clear recovery path who were likely to return to work under their own steam.<\/p>\n

GPs<\/abbr> said they would have referred 1 in 2 of their patients they considered suitable for the service (54% of deemed suitable patients). <\/p>\n

People on sick leave will be helped to return to work by being provided with an occupational health assessment when they have been, or are expected to be, off work for 4 weeks. After the assessment they will receive a return-to-work plan with recommendations to help them get back to their job more quickly. General health and work advice will be available through a website and phone line.<\/p>\n

More about Fit for Work and the independent review of sickness absence<\/h2>\n

Read Exploring future GP<\/abbr> referral to Fit For Work<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The 2011 independent review of sickness absence<\/a> by Dame Carol Black and David Frost CBE identified a lack of access to occupational health provision as one of the issues preventing employees returning to work.<\/p>\n

The government accepted their recommendation to introduce an independent assessment service to help employees on sick leave get back to work.<\/p>\n

Health Management Limited<\/a>, a MAXIMUS company, will deliver Fit for Work in England and Wales.<\/p>\n

Fit for Work Scotland will be delivered by the Scottish Government, on behalf of the UK Government.<\/p>\n

Contact Press Office<\/h2>\n

Media enquiries for this press release: 020 3267 5129<\/p>\n

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Press Office<\/h3>\n
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\nCaxton House
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\nTothill Street<\/span>
London<\/span>
SW1H 9NA<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

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\n London Press Office (national media and London area enquiries only \u2013 not questions about personal claims)<\/span>
\n 020 3267 5144\n <\/p>\n

\n Out-of-hours (journalists only)<\/span>
\n 076 59 108 883\n <\/p>\n

\n England and Wales (local media enquiries)<\/span>
\n 029 20 586 then 097 or 098 or 099\n <\/p>\n

\n Scotland (local media enquiries)<\/span>
\n 0131 310 1122\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Follow DWP on:<\/p>\n