Rishi Sunak is right to challenge the British approach to sickness and work

SIR – As a GP I very much welcome Rishi Sunak’s proposals to remove from GPs the task of signing sick notes (report, April 19).

In a 10-minute consultation it is almost impossible to assess thoroughly a person’s fitness for work, especially if the problem is related to mental health or stress. The GP – whom the patient feels should be on their side – is placed in a very difficult position. The result is that many doctors avoid a long and difficult argument with the patient by caving in and signing, even when they don’t feel the note is justified. Many people are now off work on the basis of a brief phone consultation.

I have had patients tell me that their back pain is so bad they can barely move or walk – only to see them later in the week lifting heavy bags of shopping at the supermarket with apparently no difficulty at all. I have also had patients come from the benefits office, where they have been told to get their doctor to sign them off sick as they will receive more money than on unemployment benefit and won’t then have to look for work.

Occupational health doctors could perform such assessments, but they will need to be suitably rigorous; otherwise the problem will simply be transferred and those doctors will end up signing too many unwarranted sick notes.

In any case, however, I do hope the problem will actually be tackled. Mr Sunak is big on talk but has a poor track record on action. Dr Fiona Underhill Woodford Green, Essex

SIR – In the 1960s I was an occupational health nurse in an industrial rehabilitation and government training centre.

A group of professional people assessed the long-term sick and injured, evaluating their physical and mental states. Training was provided and support in obtaining employment given. The unit was run by the then Department of Employment.

I would suggest the Government considers setting up something similar to help solve the present problem.

Margaret Vince

Machynlleth, Montgomeryshire

SIR – The Government’s pledge to “end Britain’s sick-note culture” is a punch in the gut for the millions of disabled people in Britain like me.

We’re not “shirkers” or “scroungers”. While employment isn’t appropriate for everyone, many disabled people do want to work, but the barriers we face can sometimes feel insurmountable.

Research from our charity shows that half of job-seekers with complex disabilities don’t feel they have the right support and equipment they need to look for a job. There are no Jobcentres in the country offering specialist assistive technology, such as screen readers; how are people who rely on these vital pieces of equipment meant to thrive in paid employment if they can’t even look for jobs online?

But one of the biggest barriers to finding work is negative attitudes towards disabled people, and the Government’s current rhetoric, compounded by the Prime Minister’s latest speech, is only pedalling this dangerous, damaging narrative further. The Government should be tackling this head on, instead of demonising sick and disabled people.

Steven Morris Campaigns Officer, Sense London N1