Experimental data on electronic fit notes issued in general practices in England and covers the period from 1 December 2014, when these data became available, to 31 March 2017.
The Statement of Fitness for Work (the Med3 form or 'fit note') was introduced in April 2010 across England, Wales and Scotland replacing the previous medical statement which had been unchanged for 40 years. Rather than confirming a patient's inability to work, the fit note allows the GP to use the option of 'may be fit for work' and to provide advice on how work may be resumed, considering what adjustments or adaptations to the job role or workplace would be required.
In 2012 the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) funded a project to provide GPs with the ability to produce computer-generated fit notes (eMed3) and this included the capability to collect the aggregated data generated.
Fit notes are issued to patients by doctors following an assessment of their fitness for work. While they can be written by hand, most fit notes provided by a GP are now computer-generated.
