Question: As a GP, are you confident in identifying and explaining the factors contributing to your patient’s work-related stress on a Fit Note?

Work-related illness is a massive drain on the National Health Service, with more than 1.8 million people absent from work because of work-related ill health, which costs billions of pounds every year. Of the 1.8 million, a staggering 914,000 workers are reported to be suffering from work-related stress, depression, or anxiety. That is twice as many as those suffering from a work-related musculoskeletal disorder in the same period.

This 90-minute workshop will provide GPs with understanding to enable them to differentiate between the work-related and life-related stress of their patient. The information they could provide for employers will potentially reduce the amount of time a person is absent from work due to stress. Knowing how the workplace is contributing negatively to the mental health of an employee will allow the employer to put in place reasonable adjustments to provide a safer environment.

Course Content

• Overview of relevant legislation
• Stress at work – demands, control, support, relationships, role and change
• HSE Management standards 
• Providing a psychologically safe workplace – security, autonomy, fairness, esteem and trust
• Positive lifestyle choices that patients could adopt to reduce harmful or chronic stress

We all understand that the National Health Service cannot keep up with the demands placed upon it.  Organisations must put in place a management system that will eliminate or reduce the risk of harm at work for their workforce.  

Sick notes were replaced by fit notes in April 2010, introducing a new format with two options: ‘unfit for work’ and ‘may be fit for work taking account of the following advice’. If the demands of the job are unrealistic, there’s a lack of autonomy, uncertain support, work-relationship issues, conflicting roles, or poor communication of change that are causing harmful stress to your patient, your advice on the fit note would give the employer the opportunity to make necessary adjustments and encourage the employee’s safe return to work. This approach could reduce the number of people suffering from work-related stress.