Where am I? 
Home
The number of fake sick notes requested each year is estimated to be approximately nine million, acc...
The number of fake sick notes requested each year is estimated to be approximately nine million, according to recent research from Norwich Union Healthcare (NUH). The survey found that doctors think almost a quarter of the 577 requests they receive each year for sick notes are questionable, with at least a fifth being invalid.
The report, Health of the Nation Index, found that back pain was the most common cause for sick note requests, with depression following a close second. Work place stress, other stress-related problems and flu were also among the top five claims.
The study found that almost three million workers across the country admitted they'd consider asking their GP for a fake sick note, with twice as many men as women saying they would cheat the system.
Over a fifth of the GP panel taking part in the study said up to 20% of their patients were unable to work due to health reasons. However, many believed that the number of people on sick leave could be reduced if it wasn't for delays in treatment and if organisations arranged to have their employees back to work in a different capacity.
Four out of 10 GPs questioned believed that more than a third of their patients who were unable to work could actually work a few hours a day or in a slightly different role. However they said that employers were not encouraging them back to work.
Dr Ann Robinson, one of the GPs who took part in the research, said: "Employers need to be more flexible with their workforce and hospital services need to provide fast track diagnostic and treatment centres."
Comments
Related articles
Most Read
Audio / Visual
With the industry's biggest fund managers, IFAonline welcomes you to the media centre.
Ensure you never miss another story by following IFAonline regularly updated news feed on Twitter.
Events
Poll
|
|
Related Information
Job search
Adviser Careers will open the right investment career path for you. Search hundreds of vacancies on www.advisercareers.com now
In Focus
The “Structured Products” industry has come a long way over the last few years and in my opinion has evolved, and not devolved itself, alongside the more traditional investment markets.
Viewpoints
With the debate surrounding funding long term care in the run up to the last general election, few areas have been as topical or well publicized.
sponsored by
a nation built on fraud
i see sick notes all the time in my role at work and i suspect many are fake but proving this is another matter if i were to ring the GP's number stated at the bottom would he consider this a breach of his (alledged) patients rights or is the problem so endemic in the UK he would welcome the call i would like to see a simple system put in place whereas employers HR depts phone the number to ascertain if a note is fake or not this would put doctorsnotestore out of business overnight and employers would see a reduction in absence from repetative offenders or dismissal and proscecution for the fake LTS employees currently enjoying extra paid leave whilst their colleuges attend year on year,come on HR support your overwhelmed staff rather than the underworked and overpaid
Posted by: svisor