New legislation to allow a wider range of healthcare professionals in certain settings – including pharmacists, nurses, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists – to legally certify fit notes will be laid in parliament tomorrow (June 10).

However, this policy change will only apply to pharmacists working in GP practices or hospitals, leaving the rules unchanged for those working in community pharmacies, the DWP confirmed to C+D this afternoon.

C+D understands that community pharmacies are unable to provide fit notes on the NHS, meaning that the policy change will not apply to pharmacists working in these settings.

The government said it hopes the move will “ease the pressure on GPs” and “empower better conversations about work and health between employers and staff”, by making it easier to get this advice certified by the most relevant healthcare professional.

The legislation change, which will apply across England, Scotland and Wales from July 1 once approved, follows the decision in April to allow fit notes to be certified and issued digitally.

Move “will relieve further pressures on GPs”

Pharmacy minister Maria Caulfield said: “Improving access to GP services and reducing unnecessary bureaucracy is vitally important as we tackle the COVID-19 backlog."

Extending the legislation to allow a wider range of healthcare professionals to support with fit note certification “will relieve further pressures on GPs”, she added, and “is another step towards helping to deliver an extra 50 million appointments in general practice a year by 2024”.

Meanwhile Chloe Smith, the minister for disabled people, health and work, said: “The extension of fit note certification is fantastic news for patients, making it easier for them to get the support and advice they need from the right place, ensuring where possible that they are able to remain in work.

“These latest fit note changes recognise the valuable role other professions play in helping manage people’s health and I hope this will also help reduce unnecessary bureaucracy for doctors and general practice more widely,” she added.

RPS: Public must not be "misled" over who can supply notes

Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) president Claire Anderson said the professional body had "a number of concerns that must be addressed" before pharmacists can start certifying fit notes.

Pharmacists already have "a significant workload", she noted, so "additional roles must be properly planned for and future services developed".

"It is essential that the public is given clear information about where fit notes can be obtained from and not misled that they can be provided by all pharmacists," she stressed.