Commenting on the UK Prime Minister's announcement about welfare reforms and the use of fit notes, RCOT Head of Practice and Workforce, Suhailah Mohamed, said:
'Fit notes are a key tool used by occupational therapists and other healthcare professionals to help people stay in work or return to work. However, they should never be used in isolation, and whether someone is seen as 'not fit to work' or 'may be fit to work', there needs to be support and follow-up for that person to help them get better and -wherever possible - return to the workplace. We must not undermine the serious effects of illness and disability, whether mental or physical, and its impact on someone's ability to do their job well without the right support.
'Occupational therapists are a key part of the solution to helping people return to and stay in work. With more investment in occupational therapists, we would help reduce the burden on the welfare system by supporting more people back into work and keeping them there.
'Our proposals to move more occupational therapists into community settings - including GP practices and workplaces - would help prevent some of the mental health and long-term conditions keeping people out of work by addressing them before people reach crisis-point, and getting those people the support they need sooner.'