The right-wing think tank says incentives and medical training should be reviewed to encourage doctors to target ‘whole-patient outcomes' like work participation.
The group’s latest report, Health, disease and unemployment, envisages GPs as ‘occupational health physicians,’ but recognises that GPs would need to know much more about their patients’ jobs and workplaces.
The report also calls for better access to occupational health services and physiotherapy within GP premises to help with the implementation of the new Med 3 ‘fit note’.
The report’s author, Dr Jonathan Shapiro, urged the government to ‘recognise work as a health outcome'. ‘Health is central to the ability to work and work is central to good health", he said.
More information on our Fit Note Resource Centre
