End of the sick note? GPs should be barred from signing young people off work in bid to curb youth jobs crisis, Government review says

A government review led by Alan Milburn is expected to recommend changing how people under 25 are signed off work sick, arguing that GP fit notes can push young people into long-term benefits rather than helping them stay in work or education. The proposals would replace GP-only decisions with assessments and tailored support, as ministers consider reviving reforms previously dropped by Labour.

The new community teams would include occupational therapists, work coaches, mental health specialists and jobs advisers, who would draw up return-to-work plans. Official figures cited in the article say 93 per cent of the millions of fit notes issued by GP practices last year stated that patients were not fit for work; a survey found only 9 per cent of healthcare professionals thought the system gave young people adequate support. A pilot in four areas has continued, while the Conservatives say the proposed schemes could carry substantial upfront costs.