Tax & Accounting News

Proposed changes to statutory sickness certificate procedures

02/09/2005

Doctors are currently the only people legally able to sign a statutory sickness certificate (the ‘Med 3' form), but a newly published Department of Work and Pensions research report proposes that in future certain designated 'Non Medical Healthcare Professionals' (NMHP) should also be able to sign the forms. The main perceived advantages are a reduction in doctors' workloads and a benefit to patients.

The proposed NMHP categories include nurses, physiotherapists and chiropractors.

If the proposals are accepted, the change is likely to take effect in April 2006.

 

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