Bogus fit notes could leave firms feeling sick

LAW firm George Green has warned businesses in the Black Country to be wary of bogus doctors’ notes which are being sold on the internet.

Tim Lang, partner and head of employment at the firm, said: “The website www.doctorsnotestore.com is producing fake new style fit notes on NHS headed paper bearing real doctors’ names and stamped with an official stamp.

“The site contains a disclaimer which says they are for novelty purposes only and goes on to say they do not condone intentional false absence for an employer or educational institutions.  They do not condone illegal use of these documents. 

“However the site does say that the certificates will be stamped by a doctor in any particular city facility – London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow or any other area.”

The NHS Fraud Squad has said that selling fit notes is not illegal so a person could type one up and sell it without being prosecuted.  It only becomes illegal when an employee uses it.

Mr Lang said employers should ensure that fit notes they received were genuine and to verify authenticity should be compared to previous fit notes received from the employee’s surgery.

A policy of spot checks should be introduced whereby doctors’ surgeries are contacted to verify authenticity, he added.

Guidelines for the policy should be:

•    Employers who pay company sick pay above SSP are most at risk from fake fit notes
•    Employers should conduct a robust return to work interview process
•    Employers do not have to accept a fit note at face value
•    Employers should review their contracts and sickness absence policies to ensure that they have the right to refer an employee to an independent doctor if necessary.