Sick leave should be agreed by independent assessors, says report

People should be signed off for long-term sick leave by an independent assessor rather than their GP, a government review will recommend.

The independent review, due to be published next week, is also expected to call for businesses to be given tax breaks for hiring patients with continuing and unpredictable conditions.

The welfare minister, Lord Freud, said the reforms could lead to "fewer wasted lives". He said the government wanted to intervene earlier to stop patients drifting into unnecessary ongoing state support.   More