Simon Child wrote:
> On Tue, 8 Mar 2005 08:21:26 -0000, Michael Hendry
> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> Can anyone point me to the DWP guidance on the need to issue a
>> "Final" certificate?
>>
>> I'm sure this came up recently on GP-UK
>
> That was me.
>
> After prolonged correspondence with DWP their final email to
> me contained the following:
>
> "In circumstances where you have issued an 'open' statement
> and the patient wishes to return to work at an earlier date,
> without consulting you further, you are not obliged to issue
> them with a 'closed' statement stating that they are fit to work."
>
> I wish they would tell employers about that!
PS: Discussed at the LMC meeting this evening.
Would you be prepared to forward me a copy of the full email?
If so, do you think DWP would back GPs up in declining to issue final
certificates?
Would this encourage GPs to write open certificates for improbably long
periods, and tell the patients to go back to work when they're better?
Michael
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