Medical Certificates: Sick Leave
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Written Statement entitled Fit Note Reform Pilots, published on 21 May 2026, HCWS56, how many employers in Lancashire and South Cumbria are expected to participate in the pilot.
Answered by Dame Diana Johnson
The fit note reform pilots are designed to support individual employees to remain in, or return to, work. This will include engaging with their employers, where appropriate, as part of that process, rather than targeting employers or businesses directly. As such, it is not possible to estimate how many employers in Lancashire and South Cumbria will participate.
Our initial modelling suggests up to 40,000 appointments lasting 30 minutes on average will be available for employees within Lancashire and South Cumbria. Officials are working with a wide range of employer groups, including representatives for small and medium-sized employers, to shape design and delivery of the pilots. Guidance will also be provided to support effective employer engagement with the pilots.
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