People with minor illnesses could sign themselves off work online

Nick Gutteridge
·2-min read
Sick woman with flu
Sick woman with flu - Tero Vesalainen

People suffering with minor illnesses such as flu would be able to go online and sign themselves off work under plans being considered by ministers.

The Government is looking at a new system for issuing short-term sick notes to free up doctors to care for those with long-term conditions.

Under the proposals, workers feeling ill would be directed to a website or app where they would be asked to enter their symptoms. A computer algorithm would then direct them to the correct treatment or, in the case of minor illnesses, sign them off work for a short period.

It would form a “triage service that supports people seeking a fit note into a pathway that best suits their individual health and employment needs”.

Rishi Sunak has said he wants to take responsibility for issuing sick notes away from GPs as part of a drive to crack down on worklessness.

The Prime Minister is targeting a reduction in the number of workers being signed off long-term, which has rocketed since the pandemic. In a speech last week, he said the current rise in number was unsustainable, with the cost of benefits placing an “unfair” burden on the taxpayer.

Under the current system, employees who are away from work with illness for more than seven days in a row have to get a fit note from a doctor. There are concerns that the requirement is swamping GP practices with work, meaning they have less time to spend helping people with longer-term conditions.

Mel Stride, the Work and Pensions Secretary, has expressed alarm that people with mental health problems are typically signed off in just seven minutes.

“If I’ve got flu and just need seven days off work and then I’m back, do I really need to see a doctor for that?” a government source told The Times.

Separately, ministers are considering a crackdown on private companies that offer to supply short-term sick notes to workers for a fee. One service allows people to get one for £39 by uploading a 30-second video describing their symptoms, which is assessed by a doctor.

The Government said it was “concerned about the risk of this system being abused” and was looking at whether it “should be reviewed”. That raises the possibility that ministers could look to start regulating the issuing of private sick notes more robustly or even banning the practice.

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