According to the Pulse Today website, a range of allied health professionals including physiotherapists, occupational therapists and podiatrists will begin making independent assessments of patients' fitness for work from next month, under a new scheme developed in conjunction with ministers which could significantly cut GP workload.
The scheme – which could eventually see drama therapists and art therapists issuing assessment certificates directly to employers and patients - has been developed by the Allied Health Professionals Federation, in consultation with the Department of Health and the Department for Work and Pensions, and has received the backing of the CBI.
The independent assessments will not replace the Med3, which GPs will still be required to issue in order for patients to claim state benefits.
But as with the Med3, the assessment form will require allied health professionals to state if patients are ‘not fit for work' or ‘may be fit for work' if certain advice is followed. The form can be used by employees as evidence for sick pay, and patients will be able to present it to their GP as supporting evidence when applying for a Med3.
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Physiotherapists, podiatrists and even drama therapists to help GPs sign patients off sick
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