Following the Coalition's announcement last week, for once I actually find myself agreeing with them.
GPs are not qualified to comment on or advise patients with complicated conditions.
All too often a patient will approach their friendly GP knowing that they will be able to easily convince them of their inability to work. Most hard-pressed doctors do have the time to really question a patient at length about why they are requesting to be signed off sick.
I have come across people with mild epilepsy that do not work and am aware of organ transplant patients who claim they can't work because of the side-effects of their anti-rejection drugs!
The problem is most visible with those declared unfit to work due to mental health problems. They are just given a sick note and forgotten about.
The Coalition is right to ask that these people are assessed to see if they are able to contribute to the economy in some way. And it is a view that Labour should have taken during their thirteen years in Government. All too often people's claims that they are too sick have been taken at face-value by both doctors and politicians.It is no wonder that welfare spending is so high.
And it must be acknowledged that for every sick or disabled person who can't or won't work there are many more who are willing to contribute. A distinction needs to be made between 'not being able to go out to work' and 'not being able to work at all'. With the existence of the internet and all the employment opportunities that have come with it, there is very little excuse now for most people to say they are too ill to work. It is right that decisions on a person's fitness to work should be taken by someone impartial and they should be not able to twist the arm of a easily-manipulated or stressed-out doctor.
If the new system is a success many people who desperately want to work could be able to, provided they are given the right support to accommodate their condition or circumstances.
And it will get many people who have probably told themselves for years that they've nothing to offer out of the cycle of worthlessness.
GPs are not qualified to comment on or advise patients with complicated conditions.
All too often a patient will approach their friendly GP knowing that they will be able to easily convince them of their inability to work. Most hard-pressed doctors do have the time to really question a patient at length about why they are requesting to be signed off sick.
I have come across people with mild epilepsy that do not work and am aware of organ transplant patients who claim they can't work because of the side-effects of their anti-rejection drugs!
The problem is most visible with those declared unfit to work due to mental health problems. They are just given a sick note and forgotten about.
The Coalition is right to ask that these people are assessed to see if they are able to contribute to the economy in some way. And it is a view that Labour should have taken during their thirteen years in Government. All too often people's claims that they are too sick have been taken at face-value by both doctors and politicians.It is no wonder that welfare spending is so high.
And it must be acknowledged that for every sick or disabled person who can't or won't work there are many more who are willing to contribute. A distinction needs to be made between 'not being able to go out to work' and 'not being able to work at all'. With the existence of the internet and all the employment opportunities that have come with it, there is very little excuse now for most people to say they are too ill to work. It is right that decisions on a person's fitness to work should be taken by someone impartial and they should be not able to twist the arm of a easily-manipulated or stressed-out doctor.
If the new system is a success many people who desperately want to work could be able to, provided they are given the right support to accommodate their condition or circumstances.
And it will get many people who have probably told themselves for years that they've nothing to offer out of the cycle of worthlessness.
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