Service Development

Now consider how you could develop the service given by your team:

• Review the evidence for the benefits of continuing to work, as a factor to consider when managing apatient's health
• Consider developing a practice protocol for a system that clearly documents the issuing of fit notes and keeps a running total for the length of any one spell of absence that a patient has incurred
• Keep in mind the potential importance of intervention in the 4 week to 6 month time window, and use your system as a prompt to remind you of the possible need to move to a more active management plan