Following changes made by DWP, If an employer asks for fit notes relating to non COVID-19 health conditions for payment of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) or Occupational Sick Pay (OSP), GPs should complete a fit note in the normal way, scan this and then email it to the patient, with due consideration of GDPR and with the necessary consent in place. Should an employer insist on a paper copy fit note, this can be posted to the patient. GPs may issue fit notes for a clinically appropriate time, which can be up to 13 weeks within the first six months of a condition, in line with existing guidance .
The Medical Evidence Regulations require that a fit note must have a wet signature to be valid and changing the regulations for a temporary period is not feasible. However, a fit note with a wet signature can be scanned and emailed to a patient but under existing regulations the scanned copy is termed ‘other medical evidence’ that an employer can choose to accept. The DWP will revise guidance for employers that advises them clearly to accept this ‘other medical evidence’ in the current circumstances.