Sick Note Data Extractions

Name of organisation: Old Mill Surgery

Fit Notes are also known as a “statement of fitness for work” or a “Med3 form” and were introduced in April 2010 replacing the “sick Note”. Doctors issue fit notes to people to record the advice they have given about their fitness for work. From January 2016 the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) will start to collect anonymous data on fit notes issued in England.

The data will help the Department of Work and Pensions to gain a better understanding of sickness absence and develop policy to help people with health conditions return to work earlier.

they know that for the majority of people work can be good for their health.  understanding more about sickness absences will allow us to provide services where they are most needed to support patients, their families and communities.

The data being extracted will be fully anonymized and will include:

The number of computer generated fit notes issued, the number of patients recorded as unfit or maybe unfit for work, fit note duration, gender, health condition type aggregated to high level diagnosis code, location including CCG area, whether workplace adaptations were recommended.

NO identifiable patient information will be extracted. DWP analysts will only have access to the statistics and not to any information that could identify a patient. the data collection will include fit notes issued from December 2014 but will exclude data from patients who have registered an objection subsequently for data to be extracted.

Please let your GP know when they give you a fit note if you do not wish this data to be extracted and a code can be added to your records to prevent the extraction taking place.

  

Further information about this guidance

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fit-notes-plans-for-collecting-anonymous-data-in-england.

Enquiries 0300 303 5678    enquiries@hscic.gov.uk