‘Work Well scheme will only succeed if it is done in consultation with GPs’, College Chair

Responding to the roll out of the Work Well pilot scheme, Professor Kamila Hawthorne, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said:

“GPs do not issue Fit Notes without good reason for doing so – we recognise the benefits that being in good work has on our patients’ health and wellbeing. GPs encourage people to work, or return to work, where it is safe and appropriate to do so.

“GPs work in the heart of our communities and we know our patients and their needs. GPs in many areas of the country are already socially prescribing, by linking patients with community and voluntary services for issues that can impact their health and employment, such as debt, housing instability, and social isolation.

“We also see patients where it is in the best interests of their health to be issued with a Fit Note.  GP’s priority when making any clinical decision must be the health and wellbeing of the patient, not meeting Government targets to get people back into work.

“We recognise the importance of a healthy workforce and productive economy, and we need to understand the impact of socioeconomic deprivation and inequality, the impact of longstanding strains on NHS services, as well as the substantial increases we are seeing in physical and mental health problems.

“While the RCGP oppose shifting the fit note responsibility away from GPs in entirety, we support efforts to improve the system and address existing challenges. We have long been calling for improvements to the fit note system through digital expansion, accessible training, and updated guidance for healthcare professionals, alongside improved access and input from specialist occupational services.

“We are very interested in the outcomes of the regional pilots, such as the WorkWell, Accelerator and Trailblazer programmes, and the impact they have in getting people back into the workplace. This roll-out will succeed if it is done in consultation with GPs, rather than imposed on them, and it must be rigorously evaluated at all stages. We also stress the importance of building on the success of existing collaborative efforts, such as the Healthy Hyde scheme in Manchester.

“We want to work alongside the Government on this scheme so it’s important that it is not presented as a punitive measure for patients - or for hardworking GPs who are doing their best under enormous pressures, caused by historic underfunding and poor workforce planning.”

Further information

RCGP press office: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk

Notes to editors

The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 54,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.