Healthcare professionals issued more sick notes to patients in north Cumbria this spring, new figures show.

Before July 2022, only GPs could give out a 'fit note', which tells employers if a patient is too ill to work, or give other recommendations, such as reducing their working hours.

But now other healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists and physiotherapists can certify the notes as well.

NHS Digital figures show 21,162 sick notes were issued to patients in the former NHS North Cumbria CCG area between April and June – 12 per cent more than the same period last year, when 18,856 were issued.

This meant an average of 3,648 fit notes were given out for every 100,000 patients aged 18 to 65 years of the GP population in north Cumbria.

READ MORE: Carlisle Southern Link Road reaches first milestone

These figures are for the number of individual fit notes, rather than patients – a single patient may have been given multiple notes over the course of the quarter.

Of those with a diagnosis disclosed, a mental health and behavioural disorder was the top reason for every former CCG area, with 2,405 in north Cumbria.

The NHS figures do not cover all fit notes, as some patients may opt out from sharing data. Less than 1 per cent of the total number of fit notes issued each month in England were duplicates.