Number of fit notes hit record high in 2021
The number of fit notes issued by GPs reached a record of 10.3 million in 2021, marking a 17% increase from 2020. COVID-19 was seen as the largest contributing factor after people returned to office post-lockdown. However, research has also shown an increase in notes for stress-related reasons.
According to law firm GQ Littler, the number of fit notes issued by GPs marks a 17% increase on the 8.8 million notes provided in 2020 after lockdown. The high number of fit notes issued correlated with the high number of cases of COVID-19 after people returned to work.
Between 1 April and 31 December 2021, 7.3 million cases of COVID-19 were reported. In comparison, there were two million reported COVID-19 cases for the same period in 2020.
Sophie Vanhegan, partner at GQ Littler, said:
“The spike in fit notes may reflect a rise in COVID-19 infections following the end of lockdowns in 2021. As COVID-19 cases start to rise again, employers are all too aware that this may hit staffing levels at a time when businesses are already under pressure from staff shortages. One legacy from the pandemic is it is now frowned upon to come into the office whilst visibly unwell. This could also have contributed to the increase in notes being issued in roles which cannot be performed from home.”
At the start of this month the government changed the legislation on the issue of fit notes, allowing medical professionals other than GPs to provide the notes. Fit to work notes can now be issued by nurses, pharmacists and physiotherapists, as well as GPs.
The increase in fit notes was also associated with stress-related issues, increasing by 10% from the previous year (257,000 in 2020 to 282,000 in 2021).
Vanhegan added:
“Supporting employees through their mental health issues is extremely important, not just for productivity and morale. In today’s competitive jobs market, organisations that are viewed as unsupportive may have difficulty attracting and retaining talent.”
A fitness for work statement issued by a healthcare professional provides medical evidence of an individual’s condition, allowing access to health-related benefits. A fit note may also be used as evidence for statutory sick pay (SSP) eligibility. An assessment undertaken by a healthcare professional is required for the issuance of a fit note for an individual.
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