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GPs Rarely Deny Mental Health Sick Notes
13 Mar
Summary
- Most GPs never refuse a patient's mental health sick note request.
- Sick note issuance for mental health has nearly doubled since 2015.
- Gen Z is twice as likely to experience mental health issues.
Research suggests that the vast majority of General Practitioners (GPs) have never refused a mental health sick note request, with nearly 75% of surveyed doctors confirming they always grant such requests. This finding emerges as the number of issued sick notes has dramatically increased, nearly doubling from 5.3 million in 2015 to 11.1 million in the year leading up to September 2025.
Mental and behavioural disorders accounted for 942,000 of these sick notes. Data also highlights a concerning trend among younger generations; Gen Z individuals, aged 14 to 29, are twice as likely to experience mental health issues compared to older demographics, with one in three reporting taking time off due to stress in the past year.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has expressed a desire to curb the issuance of sick notes, suggesting alternative interventions like job coaches or gym referrals. In contrast, the Royal College of GPs maintains that sick notes are only issued after careful clinical judgment. Meanwhile, NHS waiting lists have reached a three-year low of 7.25 million as of January, a development welcomed by Mr. Streeting.
