Active Health Partners (AHP) was recently chosen to take part in a study which will evaluate alternative providers of sick notes provided by GP's, currently requested after 7 day's absence by employers for statutory sick pay purposes.
Doctors are wasting thousands of hours and appointments every year on unnecessary sick notes demanded by employers, says the Government.
GP sick notes are not deemed credible by the vast majority of employers and medical professionals. Taking part in this study could lead to a more credible system being put in place.
The study is being conducted by the University of Warwick and the DWP. AHPs' service to be explored throughout the study involves a nurse based contact centre that logs absences and offers primary health advice to employees.
The study will run for approximately 1 year. However AHPs' intentions will be to continue offering their services to the companies involved.
Companies taking part in the Sick Note project and trialing AHPs' service are:
A firm of stockbrokers based in the Docklands, offering services such as private and corporate broking and on-line trading.
A charity group providing support for over 5,500 older people around the country, under a variety of schemes, including residential and nursing homes, sheltered housing schemes and live at home aids.
A Birmingham based, general insurance company providing advice and guidance on personal investment and savings plans, retirement plans, tax efficiency and income protection.
AHPs' service will help cut paperwork and such needless bureaucracy and focuses on reducing the number of GP appointments that are wasted on the issue of unnecessary sick notes.
"GPs are busy people and the time spent filling in these unnecessary forms could be better used to treat sick patients", comments Simon Longley, Occupational Health Manager at AHP.
About AHPs' service
On day 8 of an employee's absence, a trigger will be hit and AHPs' Occupational Health Manager will complete a 'fitness for work' assessment for that employee. The assessment will take place over the phone, and a notification / absence assessment will be sent to the line manager/HR. This procedure will replace the GP Sick Note so the caller will not have to visit a GP for the sole purpose of obtaining a sick note. However this will not replace the necessity of visiting a GP for a diagnosis or medical consultation/treatment.
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