Crackdown on ‘sick note culture’ could see GPs banned from signing people off

GP’s will soon be stripped of the ability to sign people off work as part of a major government inititive to crack down on ‘sicknote culture’.

Rishi Sunak today claimed that a surge in people signed off sick with mental health conditions is placing ‘unsustainable’ pressure on the welfare budget.

Delivering a speech on welfare reform, the Prime Minister said people should avoid ‘over-medicalising the everyday challenges and worries of life,’ pointing the finger at people struggling with depression and anxiety.

Sunak said ‘something has gone wrong’ since the pandemic to increase the number of people signed off work for long-term sickness, especially those with mental health conditions.’