Official | people from Merseyside most likely to be signed off work sick

People  from Merseyside are most likely to be signed off work sick, the first NHS breakdown of geographical patterns has found.

The new data details the number of “fit notes” being issued by GPs across the country- with almost 7 million issued between April and December of last year.

The figures show that Knowsley in Merseyside had the highest number of cases, with 3,125 per 100,000 population.

This was more than four times as many as in Westminster, with 688 per 100,000 population.

Cheshire and Merseyside had the most such notes of any region, while London had the least.

The data from NHS Digital shows that more than one in three cases involved workers being signed off for five weeks or more.

Mental health and behavioural problems were the most common diagnosis – accounting for 33 per cent of all cases, while back pain and other muscular problems made up 17 per cent of records logged.

A fit note is issued after the first seven days of sickness absence, following a doctor’s assessment of the patient’s fitness to work.

GPs can decide if a patient is unfit for work, or could be fit for work if their workplace or job was adapted to take account of an illness or condition.

In total, 2.386 million notes were issued in the last quarter of last year – a 2 per cent rise on the same period the previous year.

Fit notes were introduced in 2010, amid promises they would reduce reliance on incapacity benefit, and help those with health problems return to work.

Other areas with high numbers of fit notes issued, relative to their populations, include Cumbria, Lancashire, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the North East.  Those with low numbers include Hampshire, Thames Valley, Isle of Wight, Kent and Surrey and Sussex.

Credit | The Telegraph