Home / Health / GPs Overwhelmed: Sick Notes Surge Amid Mental Health Crisis
GPs Overwhelmed: Sick Notes Surge Amid Mental Health Crisis
12 Mar
Summary
- NHS mental health contacts rose to 2.24 million in January.
- Most GPs surveyed have never refused to issue a sick note.
- Overall NHS waiting list fell to 7.25 million appointments.
The NHS is experiencing a significant surge in demand for mental health support, with patient contacts reaching 2.24 million in January. This represents a substantial increase compared to previous years, prompting experts to investigate the underlying causes.
A recent investigation revealed that the majority of General Practitioners (GPs) have never declined a request for a sick note, now officially termed "fit notes." This practice occurs amidst growing pressure on mental health services, which often face lengthy waiting times for treatment.
In parallel, the overall NHS waiting list for planned treatments has seen a reduction, falling to 7.25 million appointments by the end of January. This marks the third consecutive month of decline, reaching its lowest point in nearly three years.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting noted positive movement in waiting times, attributing improvements to better planning and modernization. However, experts caution that sustaining these improvements remains challenging, with the NHS still aiming to meet a target of treating 65% of patients within 18 weeks by March.
