More than 1.1 million people were signed off sick in the first three months of this year, data shows — an increase of nearly 40,000 over the same period last year.
NHS figures also demonstrate that more long-term sick notes, those over five weeks in length, were issued by GPs, and they were mostly concentrated in the North-West of England.
The smallest number of sick notes, also known as ‘fit notes’, per head of population were handed out in London, the Home Counties and rural Yorkshire.
According to the new data released today by the NHS, the number of sick notes issued in January, February and March fell slightly, by 1.2 per cent, compared to last year. The total number signed off by family doctors came to 2,934,256.
However, the number of ‘sick note episodes’ — or illnesses that required a sick note — increased by 3.5 per cent.
The government has made it a priority to get people off benefits and NHS waiting lists and back to work (Stock Image)
More long-term sick notes, also known as ‘fit notes’, have been signed by GPs this year compared with last year, NHS data shows
This indicates that where a single illness may have been covered by multiple sick notes previously, there are now more long-term sick notes being written up.
Separate figures show the number of sick notes for five weeks or longer was 1,186,059 in the first three months of this year, compared with 1,151,408 in the same period last year.
Lancashire, Cumbria, Merseyside and Manchester had the highest number of sick notes per 100,000 people.
Blackpool had the highest rate of sickness overall. In March this year, it stood at 4,323 per 100,000 people.
North-West London had the smallest, with 1,445 per 100,000.
Mental and behavioural disorders were cited as the reason for a sick note being issued in 37 per cent of cases where a diagnosis is provided.
The scale of Britain’s sick note culture was laid bare in April when it emerged the number doled out had doubled in less than a decade.
Medics issued 11million sick notes in England last year, up 108 per cent from 5.3 million in 2015.
Campaigners have called for the system to be overhauled to curb long-term sickness absence, with warnings it is stifling the economy and creating an unsustainable welfare bill.
One-third of people given sick notes are signed off for four weeks or more, by which time 20 per cent will never return to work.
Further evidence suggests once staff are signed off for six months, 80 per cent will never return.
Last year, an incredible 186 million working days were lost due to sickness or injury, with soaring numbers absent for extended periods due to mental health issues or behaviour disorders.
Meanwhile, the Office for Budget Responsibility has forecast that spending on incapacity and disability benefit is set to rise by 49 per cent to £90.9 billion between 2023/24 and 2028/29.