Haven't you realised yet HWS? There's actually [inothing[/i wrong with any of us! All it is is that our GP had no incentive to encourage us back to work and our vast disability benefits are [iso[/i generous that we just don't want to work.

The lovely Mr Cameron is going to let Atos decide on sick notes (can't wait to see how that works given their waiting times for ESA/IB/DLA medicals) and they will show people the error of their ways. Then the nice big businesses won't have to pay any sick pay because that's a wee shame for those big businesses if people are poorly (oh, and the state won't have to cough up any SSP). Then people won't be off sick for 28 weeks so won't qualify for ESA and we'll all be super healthy and know it and we'll all live happily ever after.

I'm amazed that GP's are not up in arms about it. Basically they are being accused of fraud/being stupid (as Atos basically do when they ignore their reports already) and not doing the best for their patients.

GPs - in La La Lansley's world, they're qualified to manage £80bn of the NHS budget, but not qualified to judge whether someone is sick ...

My father has a condition which means his spine in crumbling, he also has rheumatoid arthritis in both hands especially his thumbs. He is in pain quite literally all the time. His doctor advised him to stop working for the good of his health and signed him of sick. My dad duly stopped working and got in touch with the benefits office to see what he was entitled to. A ruck load of forms later he was sent for an assesment by one of the benefits office "doctors". A few weeks later he received the assesment and was told he was fit to work. The worst part being that his own doctor received a letter from the benefits agency TELLING him he was to stop signing my dad off sick!!!
My dad still does not work and is living off his pensions because he is entitled to fook all, not even JSA or any income support because of his pensions! The benefits system in this country is nothing more than a joke. Those that have never contributed and can play the system, get everything. Those that have put in all their working life, when they need it get sweet FA! It stinks!

Rant over

[url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/nov/20/nhs-hospitals-cuts-college-nursingUp to 56,000 clinical staff to go says RCN[/url

[i"The RCN's figures drew a furious response from the government last night. Simon Burns, the health minister, described them as "union scaremongering" and said the health department did not "recognise" them."[/i

I've still yet to hear a credible explanation as to how the government can increase spending in the NHS and yet demand savings of £20 billions. Just how does that one work?

Just been on a three day drinking session and totally forgotten and missed my appointment with Remploy in the process. I’m normally a really organised person and would remember appointments but the way Remploy treated me last time by using me as a slave at ASDA they deserve some messing about with.

Part-timer.

Emmas gonna get you.

With bait like that you must be expecting a pretty big haul lad.

Quite.

The idea of GPs rationing health care is laughable. They don't even know about the treatments available for more complex conditions so how could they make reasonable decisions?

As to sick notes - they seem to sign them if people ask, without question. There must be other situations were they sign them even if the patient would prefer to go to work. I've only heard the headlines, but who will be judging instead? It's not going to be more qualified doctors as they have better things to do. In which case it'll be less qualified people, which would be outright dangerous.

A government appointed 'independant' panel.

So probably someone like Atos. That should be fun.

My GP and consultant are already furious that Atos and the DWP can, and have, completely disregarded their reports. I can just imagine how chuffed the GP is going to be now the government are basically saying he's either too thick to realise when people are at it or too lazy/corrupt to be bothered.

Probably the shambles of a company called ATOS. This system is already happening to qualify for ESA. You are assesed by a medical assesor, that could be a doctor, nurse or physiotherapist, luck of the draw whether they are familiar with your condition. You are asked computer based questions without the right to reply about how your condition affects you in relation to what they've just asked. Nail on the head with dangerous, I don't usually agree with you or the paper you insist is the voice of the nation but even your beloved Daily Mail readers are in disagreement on this one!

My GP would issue me with a sick note straight away because he is aware of my condition, my treatments, my surgeries, my physical limitations, the side effects of drugs I'm taking etc, etc and to have someone with no knowledge of any of that is wrong and as you point out, dangerous.

Dear GP,

Here is an £80m budget, you are responsible enough to deal with it yourself and decide where it should be spent.

Yours
Andrew Landsley

PS. As you can't be trusted to see when your patient is well, you can't sign anyone off any more.