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GPs Divided on Signing Mental Health Sick Notes
12 Mar
Summary
- Most GPs have never refused a mental health sick note request.
- Some GPs expressed frustration with the current sick note system.
- Aggressive patient behavior was reported over sick note denials.
A survey sent to over 5,000 GPs in England indicates varying practices concerning mental health sick notes. Of the 752 who responded, a substantial majority, 540, stated they have never denied a sick note request due to a patient's mental health issues. Conversely, 162 GPs reported having refused at least one such request. The results highlight a divergence in how general practitioners handle these sensitive situations.
Some GPs expressed dissatisfaction with the current system, suggesting that the provision of fit notes should not fall under their responsibilities. These practitioners noted challenges, including instances of patients reacting aggressively when their requests for sick notes were not met. One account detailed a patient refusing to leave a practice without being issued a fit note.
It is important to note that the GPs who participated in this questionnaire may not be representative of all family doctors across England. Therefore, the findings should be interpreted with this potential limitation in mind.
