'Improving Lives - The Work, Health and Disability Green Paper' sets out the government's proposals to reduce sickness absence and increase the proportion of disabled people in work. The paper outlines proposed changes to be implemented by employers, the welfare system and health and care providers.

See the green paper on the government website here

See the CSP's press release in response to the launch of the green paper here

The green paper is being consulted on until mid-February. The CSP will be responding as an organisation, and are keen to reflect your views and evidence in to that response. Any examples and data that you have would be really valuable evidence. The survey will close on 27th January.

We will be focusing our response on; how self-referral/early access to physiotherapy in primary care can improve MSK health and reduce sickness absence; the role of physiotherapists in having conversations with service users about work; and the benefits of physiotherapists being able to issue fit notes. With this in mind we are concentrating on the six questions below.

Please contact Alice Sorby, Policy and Research Officer, sorbya@csp.org.uk for more information

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* 1. Are doctors best placed to provide work and health information, make a judgement on fitness for work and provide sickness certification?
To help us answer this, please can you describe what difference it would make to both service users and health professionals if physiotherapists could issue fit notes?

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* 2. Does the fit note meet the needs of employers, patients and health care professionals? 
To help us answer this, please can you describe the ways that physiotherapists issuing fit notes could better meet the needs of employers and patients (e.g. by advising on adjustments to work)

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* 3. How should access to services, assessment, treatment and employment support change for people with musculoskeletal conditions so that their health and employment needs are met in the best possible way? 
To help us answer this please tell us about how your service supports service users with MSK  health issues - we are particularly interested to hear from members who are involved in services that provide early and direct access from primary care.

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* 4. What is the best way to encourage clinicians, allied health professionals and commissioners of health and other services to promote work as a health outcome?
To help us answer this, please can you tell us if your service records work as a health outcome, and if so describe what you do. 

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* 5. How can we ensure an individual can access health services, which consider their employment needs, particularly for common conditions which affect an individual's ability to work - especially musculoskeletal and mental health?
To help us answer this, please can you tell us if and how you consider your patients' working environment and employment needs in your assessment and advice.

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* 6. How can we strengthen the role of occupational health and related professions and services, so that people's health and employment needs are considered together?
Help us answer this question be giving your views on how this might be achieved - including the role of the wider MSK physiotherapy workforce as well as the role of occupational health physiotherapists.

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* 7. Any other comments?

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