Britain's sick note epidemic laid bare: Doctors issued 11 MILLION 'fit notes' ... trends now
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The scale of Britain’s sick note culture is today laid bare as a damning report reveals the number doled out has doubled in less than a decade.
Health workers issued 11 million sick notes, also called ‘fit notes’, in England last year, up 108 per cent from 5.3 million in 2015, according to Policy Exchange think-tank.
Its report calls for the system to be overhauled to curb long-term sickness absence, which it warns is stifling the economy and creating an unsustainable welfare bill.
The authors highlight that one-third of people given sick notes are signed off for four weeks or more, by which time 20 per cent will never return to work.
Further evidence suggests once staff are signed off for six months, 80 per cent will never return.
Shocking sick note culture: one-third of people given sick notes are signed off for four weeks or more, by which time 20 per cent will never return to work
Health professionals have too little time to refer individuals to effective support, making the growth in long-term sickness tougher to tackle
Last year, an incredible 186 million working days were lost due to sickness or
