Posted By Les Welling What do other members think about GPs signing sick notes off as "STRESS CAUSED BY WORK"? Whilst I understand fully that some stress can be caused by work, (there are, of course, many other stressor out there) I find it difficult to understand how a GP would know this without visiting the workplace and without further investigation. I suspect the GP has taken the word of the person reporting sick. I would also doubt if a GP is qualified to make that assessment. He could be called up as an "Expert" witness (as the person signing the sick note) if a case of Work Related Stress came to court and I suspect any good lawyer would have no difficulty in proving that he wasn't an expert. So whats the answer? Will someone reporting to their GP that they have work related stress have to get the opinon of a consulted before submitting a sick note? Apart from the normal 3 day reporting criteria, I understand that Work Related Stress in itself may be reportable under RIDDOR if the HSE recommend it and therefore this could be important.

Posted By Bob Youel There is case law re this issue whereby a GP is the primary competent person - we just have to live with it and act accordingly You can manage such a situation but it can require a lot of work for little benefit as I know

Posted By sharon Field I have been experiencing the same problem two members of staff have given sick notes with workplace stress as the diagnosis. The only thing these workers have in common is the same GP.I have risk assessed and to be honest their departments are so stress free I'm thinking of asking for a career move just so I can work there. I have written to this GP asking how he can make this diagnosis without inside knowledge of the Staffs working conditions. I'm still waiting for his reply. regards shaz

Posted By Kieran J Duignan Les There is confusion underlying your question 'So whats the answer?' as you have not described the problem clearly. What a GP's standard note actually states is simply that an individual is, in his professional opinion, authorised to claim statutory sickness benefit: it does not actually state that the employee may take time off work. The critical question that you have not asked is: who is competent to state whether an indidividual employee is fit to work withour risk of illness or injury? In my opinion, two sets of professionals meet this requirement in the UK at present: a. psychiatrists (i.e. members of the Royal College of Psychiatry) who are also members of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine. b. a chartered occupational psychologist who is also a chartered safety and health practitioner and a qualified counsellor: here I declare an interest and acknowledge that I am one of this group. If you commission a member of either of these groups, you are investing in a report which you can use as a basis for negotiation about management of the risks of occupational stress to employees and of interactions between this and other forms of stress. In my experience of cases I've reported on (one involving a court hearing in which I was an expert witness commissioned by the employee's trade union), even doctors who are chartered members of IOSH and Associates of Fellows of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine avoid making the kind of assessment you refer to, even for their own employers; instead, they refer the employer to a member of one of the two groups I've identified above. Looked at through professional lenses, the situation is no more difficult really than one of managing hazards arising from a hazard as serious as asbestos or legionella: where the hazards are beyond your competence, advise your directors of the need to involve the right specialise and pay for their opinion which they will have to stand by in the event of dispute. In the real world, often a diplomat psychiatrist or psychologist can facilitate compromises that find common ground and enable everyone involved to learn, move on and deliver the value they are paid to deliver, leaving the safety professional with the satisfaction of managing to solve a tricky problem without comebacks to him/her or to his/her employer.

Posted By Ian Mitchell Hello Sharon. One important factor regarding stress is that it can be caused by not enough responsibility as well as too much. Perhaps the two individuals did not feel fully utilised? Their department may be really easy, but day in day out - no thanks! Cheers Ian M

Posted By Les Welling Well, what I actually said was: I would also doubt if a GP is qualified to make that assessment. He could be called up as an "Expert" witness (as the person signing the sick note) if a case of Work Related Stress came to court and I suspect any good lawyer would have no difficulty in proving that he wasn't an expert. However, your point is taken. This point still worries me and I am not yet convinced that GPs should sign off peoples illnessess as "Stress - Work related".

Posted By John Doe Quite right, Zaphod. It doesn't appear that any of you have picked up on the fact that 'stress' is not an illness or disease. It's a potential cause. For a GP to put this on a sick note is like stating 'fell over' when the patient broke his/her wrist. And that's when the GP has managed to establish the true cause. I can't believe GPs get away with this. I'd send the note back and ask them to state what the illness actually is.