WORKERS should be able to sign themselves off sick for two weeks rather than just one before needing a note from their GP, doctors have argued.

Doctors at the British Medical Association (BMA) conference in Belfast will vote today on whether to extend the period in which a sick worker does not needs to get a doctor’s certificate.

At present, workers must give their employer a note from their doctor if they are off sick for more than seven days in a row, including weekends.

BMA GP committee deputy chairman Dr Richard Vautrey said writing so-called “fit notes” for people who only need to be off work for a couple of weeks takes away appointments from patients who need to see a doctor for medical reasons.

“It’s about empowering patients and trusting patients and reducing unnecessary appointments with GPs,” he said.

“If you’ve got a patient who very clearly has an illness that is going to last 10 days to two weeks, why do they need to make an appointment with a GP just to get that note to tell their employer what their employer probably knows already and what the patient should be trusted to be able to pass on?

“This is just a motion that is trying to do something to reduce the unnecessary appointments that GPs have and thereby increase the number of appointments that are available for people who genuinely do need to see a GP.”

Dr Vautrey said that if someone was to abuse the system it would be an issue between them and their employer, adding: “We just have to trust people to do the right thing.

“The vast majority of people want to work. They don’t want to be off work for significant amounts of time.”