• Identify when a patient may be fit to return to work
• Correctly complete and use the statement of fitness for work to provide advice to the employer
• Provide advice that helps patients with health problems to remain in work or return to work, and which supports rehabilitation
• Integrate the principles of effective rehabilitation into a patient's management plan

The following sessions may be of further interest:

• Health e-Working Primary Care/Difficult Decisions Assessing Fitness for Work
• Health e-Working Primary Care/Worklessness and Unemployment

• More detailed learning materials for work and health in Primary Care.

Refer to the following text for additional information:

Assessing fitness for work, and information regarding work and health

• British Medical Journal [Internet]. Clinical Evidence, UK. View link
• Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority [Internet]. Medical standards of fitness to drive. View link
• Gunnyeon W, Parker G, Sharp C et al. The Health and Work Handbook. London: Royal College of General Practitioners, 2005. View document
• Healthy Working Wales [Internet]. Welsh website that promotes wellbeing in the workplace. View link
• Palmer K, Cox RAF, Brown I, eds. Fitness for work: the medical aspects. 4^th rev. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007.
• National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence [Internet]. Published clinical guidelines, UK. View link
• Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network [Internet]. Published guidelines, Scotland. View link

Impact of sickness certification on helping people return to work

• Health Work Wellbeing [Internet]. Carol Black's review, UK. View link
• Health Work Wellbeing [Internet]. Working for Health website, UK. View link
• Jobcentre Plus [Internet]. Benefits and services for people of working age, UK. View link
• NHS Plus [Internet]. Health at work information, UK. View link
• Waddell G, Burton AK. Executive summary of paper about concepts of rehabilitation for the management of common health problems, 2004. View document
• Waddell G, Burton AK. Is Work Good for your Health and Well-being? London: TSO, 2006. View document

Role of work in rehabilitation

• Equality and Human Rights Commission
• Frank AO, Chamberlain M. Rehabilitation: an integral part of clinical practice. Occupational Medicine 56;5:289-290.
• Waddell G, Burton AK. Executive summary of paper about concepts of rehabilitation for the management of common health problems, 2004. View document
• Health Work Wellbeing [Internet]. Working for Health website, UK. View link

• Gallo WT, Bradley EH, Dubin JA et al. The persistence of depressive symptoms in older workers who experience involuntary job loss: Results from the health and retirement survey. J Gerontol 2006; 61B: S221-S228.
• Gallo WT, Bradley EH, Siegel M et al. Health effects of involuntary job loss among older workers: findings from the health and retirement survey. J Gerontol 2000; 55B: S131-S140.
• Gallo WT, Teng HM, Falba TA et al. The impact of late career job loss on myocardial infarction and stroke: A 10 year follow up using the health and retirement survey. Occup Environ Med 2006; 63: 683-687.
• Lewis G, Sloggett A. Suicide, deprivation, and unemployment: Record linkage study. BMJ 1999; 317: 1283-6.
• Moser KA, Fox AJ, Jones DR, Goldblatt PO. Unemployment and mortality: further evidence from the OPCS longitudinal study 1971-81. Lancet 1986; i: 365-367.
• Thomas C, Benzeval M, Stansfeld SA. Employment transitions and mental health: An analysis from the British Household Panel Survey. J Epidemiol Comm Health 2005; 59: 243-249.
• Waddell G, Burton AK, Kendall NAS. Vocational Rehabilitation: What Works, for Whom, and When? London, TSO, 2008.
• Waddell G, Burton AK, Main CJ. Screening to identify people at long-term risk of incapacity for work: A conceptual and scientific review. London, Royal Society of Medicine Press, 2003.