The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued guidelines for employers and health professionals in how to improve the management of long term sickness and incapacity (http://www.nice.org.uk/Guidance/PH19).

The guidance indicates that GPs should think twice before issuing sick notes, as in many cases being at work helps recovery and rehabilitation, whereas keeping people off work can be similarly bad for their health.

Blossoms' Occupational Health Manager, Josie McGeady, comments "mental health problems are frequently compounded by a loss of status, salary and routine associated with working" and continues "mental health rehabilitation is often focussed around counselling and drugs, although working and routine are just as important".

Blossoms welcomes the first guidance from NICE on reducing sickness absence rates.  Although some individual GPs may not be overly concerned about a patients' employer, the guidelines form a solid basis for encouraging rehabilitation rather than continuing to write sick notes ad infinitum.

Please contact us for more information about our occupational health services.