TY - JOUR T1 - Work, fit notes, and occupational health JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 715 LP - 716 DO - 10.3399/bjgp10X515647 VL - 60 IS - 579 AU - Jillian Morrison Y1 - 2010/10/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/60/579/715.abstract N2 - In the current age of austerity, governments around the world are looking at ways to reduce public spending. In the UK, attention has recently focused on trying to reduce the huge cost to the economy of supporting people of working age who have stopped working for health reasons.1 A range of initiatives and policies that encourage people back to work have been introduced in the UK. Government initiatives have included replacing Incapacity Benefit, Income Support, and Severe Disablement Allowance, with Employment Support Allowance from October 2008.2 It has been widely recognised that being out of work is bad for health at a population level, and remaining in work may have positive health benefits.3GPs in the UK are the initial gatekeepers to the benefit system by issuing sickness certificates after 1 week of selfcertified absence. A ‘Statement of Fitness for Work for social security or Statutory Sick Pay’ enables people to stay off work in the early stages of illness without losing income until Work Capability Assessment can be conducted within 13 weeks.4 It is recognised that it is difficult for people who have been receiving benefits for … ER -