Year published: 2017
We have seven recommendations:
- Physiotherapists should be enabled to issue fit notes to improve the fit note system, provide the necessary advice to employees and employers, and save patient and GP time.
- To improve MSK health there needs to be improved access for the public to expert advice and support from physiotherapists in primary care through development of the general practice physiotherapy role and service redesign to increase patient self-referral/direct access to physiotherapy.
- We should use these developments as an opportunity to improve the advice for employers and employees about return to work in primary care.
- The NHS e-referral system will need to be amended so as not to unintentionally prevent patient self-referral to physiotherapy.
- All health professionals need to be having conversations with patients about work and recording work as an outcome. We should utilise the skills and knowledge from occupational health physiotherapists and MSK physiotherapists to increase capacity and capability to do this among other health care professionals.
- The government’s ‘Fit for Work Service’ should continue to be staffed by the appropriate health care professionals, including physiotherapists, to ensure that an individual’s employment needs are considered by the most expert professional group for their condition.
- The government should create tax incentives to encourage investment in occupational health and in training for managers and human resources staff to improve workplace health and wellbeing.