Let workers self-certify illness for 14 days, say GPs

 Let workers self-certify illness for 14 days, say GPs

Workers should be able to self-certify sickness for up to two weeks to help reduce the number of unnecessary GP appointments, doctors say.

People need a doctor’s note if they are off for more than a week, but GPs said people should be trusted more and it could reduce the growing burden on GPs. The call at the British Medical Association’s annual conference comes amid rising demand for appointments. But the government said it had no plans to change the existing policy. Doctors also want to be paid for carrying out health checks on patients who apply for firearms licenses. GPs are asked by police to report any health conditions – mental or physical – that may present a risk.These assessments can take up to an hour to do as medical records have to be examined, and doctors said that uses valuable NHS resources.