BMA: Sicknote review a long time coming

The British Medical Association (BMA) says it is relieved by the government's sicknote overhaul proposals.

Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the BMA council, said doctors have been frustrated by the difficulties of assessing people's fitness for work.

But he warned the details of a 'well note' system would have to be "carefully examined" in terms of conflict of interest issues and workload implications.

"The GP must continue to act as the patient's advocate, not a policing arm of the Department for Work and Pensions," he added.

"Employers must also take more responsibility for promoting the health and wellbeing of their staff including much wider provision of proper occupational health services that specialise in health at work, rather than the patchy occupational illness services that we have at present."