Calling in to work sick will be easier from today as new sick note rules come in.
In plans that help to reduce the workload of GPs, more health professionals can now write the notes. Nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists can legally sign people off work from today.
Sick notes are needed after an employee takes seven days off work sick to prove to employers why they should be allowed to be off. Until now only GPs had the power to authorise absence from work.
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The change has taken effect in England, Scotland and Wales and is being mirrored in Northern Ireland. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Slashing unnecessary bureaucracy is key to ensuring more patients can see their GP quickly and get the care they need as we bust the Covid backlogs."
The Government is relaxing the rules further after changing them in April so that GPs had the option to sign sick notes digitally instead of having to use a pen and paper. Mr Javid has pledged to oversee a "digital revolution" to accelerate NHS access.
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