Medical Certificates: Reform
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Department for Work and Pensions’ press release entitled Broken fit note system to be overhauled, published on 20 May 2026, what timetable the Government has for national rollout of reforms to the fit note system in the event of successful pilots.
Answered by Dame Diana Johnson
The Department is taking a test-and-learn approach to gathering evidence to determine the viability and deliverability of the tested models for the fit note reform pilots, so that we can take a rapid, iterative approach. We envisage a combination of qualitative methods to be used to assess the effectiveness of the pilots, such as qualitative interviews and focus groups, observational research of the processes and patient journey mapping
In the longer term, as the design of the pilots matures and we undertake wider testing the Department expects to move towards more quantitative analysis, including the development of metrics to assess outcomes, such as return to work rate, and effectiveness.
These test and learn pilots are anticipated to run until Spring 2027, with findings from this expected to inform any decisions on wider roll out along with any wider testing of these reforms.
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