Should We Strip GPs of the Right to Sign People Off Sick from Work?

The Prime Minister will say today that we need to end what he calls 'a sick note culture', with more of a focus on getting people back to work. Part of it will be to take the responsibility for issuing sick notes away from doctors.
Businessman, Charlie Mullins and and Dr. Emeka Okorocha debate.
Broadcast on 19/04/24
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#GMB #sicknotes #gps #nhs #doctorsnote

[@BodTheGrinch]

Would recommend this Charlie fella get his mental health checked, given that he seems to think it's a good idea to leave the house looking like a melted wax scarecrow.

[@JBurd3n]

🤣🤣 spot on!

[@peterlpool1387]

😂😂😂

[@M1-jn8lp]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 💯

[@audreyhylton4936]

Right 😂 He looks scary AF

[@Subtle-will]

I need a mental health check after seeing it 😮

[@Nash0303]

Mental health services are stretched, the Conservative government shut down many essential services, this is the backlash

[@burr2612]

Is this after the labour government destroyed the economy leave barely any funds for any health service???🤔 History keeps repeating itself doesn’t it.

[@insomniacbritgaming1632]

Labour started the shut down... they were stretched ion 2005 too

[@nigelhart3897]

​@@insomniacbritgaming1632 Really? When labour were in you could see a GP in two days. Not sure where you get your info, or do you just make it up?

[@boota1979]

@@insomniacbritgaming1632 I worked in the sector at that time and you are talking nonsense.

[@AD-kv9kj]

@@boota1979 That's all they do, still...STILL trying to blame Labour who haven't been in government for 12 years. Nobody's falling for it anymore, the tories take zero responsibility for anything they ever do even after 12 years in power.

[@sookmajoaby]

Who's more qualified than a doctor to sign people off? 🤔

[@andrewlee8909]

Politicians seem to think themselves

[@BritWolf1]

*-Why do young men not want to work?-* *Why do young men not want to live?* (The biggest killer of young men in the UK under 40, is they decide to take their own lives!)

[@JayThandi]

MPs apparently

[@bfolks2250]

Some robots sitting in jobcentre, dwp , AI system and ofcourse TORY POLITICIANS. They are more qualified than doctors 😂

[@andrewlee8909]

@@bfolks2250 that seems the way its heading

[@youmestsaf]

I wonder who I should take health advice from? A haggard old man who’s made himself look like Shirley off eastenders or a handsome, healthy and athletic GP? I wonder 🤔

[@D47JoyUnited]

"Shirley" that's priceless

[@jude3144]

Shirley of Eastenders 😂😂

[@finleyplympton]

I thought it was Shirley!

[@ocelotrevs]

How does it benefit anyone if a single person infects an entire office with an illness?

[@angelabrooke5059]

Exactly

[@liya1509]

Good god, someone buy Charlie a mirror. Can’t take him seriously looking like that.

[@NameName-s3j]

As someone diagnosed with schizophrenia, this video surely reinforces the shame i feel for being unable to hold down a job. Id give anything to live a normal life like mr plastic fantastic here. Being unemployed is lonely and depressing

[@sharonlee4622]

I know, this is terrible what they're trying to do

[@TayWoode]

Lonely? I thought schizophrenics were never lonely. I’m kidding, my cousin was diagnosed and used to joke “At least I’ll never be lonely, and neither will I”

[@boota1979]

@user-fr1uk9nt2k Please do not feel shame for having an illness!!! The problem is no one give a toss, we need more love, empathy and understanding in this world, instead of this I'm alright jack attitude. No one knows when they will be ill or suffer from mental health issues. Peace and Love to You.

[@zoomed66]

Try Niacin combined with vitamin c mega dose.

[@atekle1382]

Most people are depressed because of obnoxious employers like this guy

[@sharonlee4622]

The fact this is even being discussed is a disgrace. Picking on the most vulnerable people, who they made worse by isolating and jagging.

[@chrysalis4126]

Sunak wants to make us like America. No paid sick days, no paid holiday days and private healthcare companies. When he was chancellor he had a meeting with US private healthcare companies and he also had a green card. For all he says he is proud of this country he wants us to be like the USA.

[@Kellyr555]

Really? Who r these GPS signing people off cos Ive never come across any. Maybe Charlie’s the reason his staff is going off sick?

[@tejalpunja9001]

When you are then you lot would know

[@andrewcropper163]

Getting a billionaire businessman stating "Monday and Friday illnesses", generalising sickness is dangerous. Having had time off with anxiety this is terrible. What a pointless idea Sunak is proposing. RIdiculous

[@tofurakhanom2644]

Shame on this government while they spend millions millions war's that's hot nothing to do with Britain

[@kimwilding8444]

The issue isn't that more people are getting sick - it's that we have absolutely no health service to help people get better at the moment, so people stay sick for longer. If they just invested in the NHS, it would actually help some of this.

[@D47JoyUnited]

Preventative medicine is not a thing in the UK.

[@liliancarroll3189]

Spot on.

[@bobbates797]

Is that Zelda off Terra hawks? How many companies would hire someone who has a disability and has been inactive for a number of years? According to Duncan Smith’s views under call me Dave’s government if you can press a button you can do some type of work where are these type of jobs that don’t require training/ qualifications etc? Phillip Davis would make them work for less than the minimum wage probably just sitting on view for people to sneer at no doubt. The small mercy I can cling to is my late mother won’t have to go through the indignity of having to justify her inability to work because these scumbags would tip her out of her wheelchair if they could get away with it.

[@bobbates797]

@@philipcrossley1279 at first I thought Shirley off Eastenders but she’s a double for Zelda anyway 😂

[@gilliangourley7558]

Remember Charlie's forced his staff to have the jab

[@icilmaa]

He didn't force his staff to have the jab. He could've mandated it for new recruits but that's it. His workers were under no legal obligation to take it.

[@kabsikins1790]

Can we please start taxing people for plastic surgery. They must have taken days off work for that!

[@alisonstuart2784]

The only thing more stretched than the NHS is Charlie's skin. His plastic surgeon needs to take a few days off

[@D47JoyUnited]

Or phone in sick LOL

[@snsn7251]

😂😂

[@gailainsley6939]

😂😂

[@krumble8327]

This Charlie guy is an embarrassment.

[@lynnecromack4933]

He is right though. 2.5 million signed off !!!

[@paulmerchant4416]

You won't find it very funny when the patient , runs in the work place of is head schizophrenic, trying to do every one in because he's been signed off.

[@laurencooper3169]

they need to sort the nhs out then.

[@D47JoyUnited]

@@lynnecromack4933 Well if that is what he signed of to pay for that surgery, he's been robbed. LOL

[@walan31]

​@lynnecromack4933 So, your argument is 2.5 million off sick for few days, weeks etc out of 67 million is too high. You are not at all concerned that 2.5 million are genuinely are struggling and need to get well so they can become and stay financially independent long term?

[@syewilliams2372]

Hay everyone look at the Ill and poor people taking all your money how dare they Oh we just need 8 billion to help my friends tho - the real hard workers🤬 hate this government

[@insomniacbritgaming1632]

it's not about people who are genuinely ill... people get sick notes for anxiety...

[@leighannclements7849]

And have you ever suffered with anxiety?

[@bereal6590]

@@insomniacbritgaming1632 you're so out of touch

[@insomniacbritgaming1632]

@@bereal6590 not really... I've got severe chronic back pain, some days I struggle to get up and out of bed... yet I go to work every day, yet some absolute wet wipes say they can't work because they're anxious or stressed... WE'RE ALL ANXIOUS AND STRESSED

[@insomniacbritgaming1632]

@@leighannclements7849 strangely enough, yes... and I still manage to go to work full time

[@Raggtails]

Has that tool ever tried to access mental health services?

[@bereal6590]

Of the NHS or even to get to see a doctor for a physical illness as well!

[@paulfearon6580]

Plastic rod Stewart.

[@malcolmmitchell6529]

So it is THE PANDEMIC PLUMBER!

[@malcolmmitchell6529]

Never met a poor plumber.

[@samanthabbandara]

Lol

[@nigelhart3897]

As working conditions deteriorate and wages fall against inflation, as the cost of living sky rockets, starving people back to work is the tory solution. After all, it worked with the nurses. It's the old "taking back control" that Brexiteers were promised. Once the Tories achieve their dream and get us out of the ECHR the slavery act will no doubt be repealed.

[@TheSmittenman]

On the few times i have been to see my GP for a serious condition, i have never seen the same doctor twice. My surgery is staffed by part-time locums only

[@IfthekarHussain-v5o]

More like end the curroption of the tories

[@TheAegisClaw]

Did his face melt and he still didnt take a day off sick?

[@MyFrankieee]

I agree vey odd looking plastic surgery and wig😂can’t stand the jobs worth

[@pauleaton947]

Rod Stewart Melt !!!

[@gavinsmith9564]

Billionaire Brexiteer says we can't afford stuff because he and his Millionaire Brexit chums know how real people live. We are all poorer thanks to his and his mates disasterous Brexit.

[@MakaRonMcPasta]

Nah, we're all poorer because the world got shut down for 2 years in March 2020. I'm only making 1/3 of what I did in 2019 and I'm one of hundreds of millions worldwide.

[@leet3207]

The sanctions on russian energy has done more damage to UK economy than brexit.

[@jakereevesward4562]

​@@MakaRonMcPasta That's on you that you're making that much. Newsflash - the lockdown ended years ago, how about taking some responsibility for a change.

[@robmule4647]

@@jakereevesward4562 the lockdown BS doubled national debt, there is no getting over that. Nobody with a functioning brain calls 18-24 months 'years ago' either.

[@adamkennedy7297]

​@@jakereevesward4562you sound like somebody who has never struggled in their life.

[@SocotraBoy]

The issue is how are these people going to get jobs? Seems like a big risk for an employer to train someone who could have an "episode" at any time and either be signed off or forced to quit? What support is available to the mentally ill people when they need to wait over a year just to get to the assessment stage of therapy? Do we really think lobbing them off to the DWP is the answer? Good luck. lol

[@spacetime3]

Getting people back to work... sort the NHS out and fund it so it functions as it should. Why do people think a Business man has any incentive or right or qualification to talk about the public's health... Arrogant and Narssastic. Also the question how do we get them to work? it just assumes the majority of people don't want to work... its a mental, egotistical idea really is.

[@Sbs349]

What in the Rod Stewart knock off..

[@lindacurrie8817]

Dignity and pride Sunak does not pay the bills, put food on the table and clothes on ones back. A decent salary does all of latter. The workers are not being subsidised by the tax payer the employers are. If workers received a proper living wage they would not require a benefit top up therefore the tax payer pays nothing. Employers are the very peoole who are being subsidised as they do not provide a fair days pay for a fair days work. Employers pretend to provide a decent salary and the citizens will pretend to work.

[@dianabower3960]

No, they are the only Dr's who can make that decision as they are medical professionals. NIT THE GOVERNMENT. HOW DEAR HE,

[@kabsikins1790]

Yes a rich businessmen who may or may not be paying their full share of taxes to decide for the rest of the country!

[@kabsikins1790]

Can people start logging online when they think they are going to suffer strokes, heart attacks, autoimmune failures, etc and name the doctors surgery, the HR administrators, the leadership teams and the corrupt govt. ministers who can be held responsible for untimely deaths.

[@LuzDoSol-yr5bv]

The services ( such as job centres) in general are not equipped to a better return to work. Some are actually actively looking for employment, and employers just dont take you.

[@irresistablejewel]

Well already: the final word on "fit notes" has been "outsourced" to a private sector company; while the political class has continually cut funding to to the NHS and other social programs (they don't use) while exporting billions to who knows where? While who is more qualified than a doctor (with seven years of student debt) to judge health matters? While if the private sector want more people to work for them: one problem is billionaire company owners (who must be either charging too much, or offering poor terms and conditions) and companies that avoid tax, or give politicians things. I've had three jobs in three years; one paying minimum wage for night shift hotel work and still the company went bankrupt; another plugged into a computer (saying do this, do that); another (hotel) flooded for the second time, bailed out and just lease the place now. No job security; poor wages; while someone on average wage won't be buying the average priced house, no wonder people are sick; what's in it for them? (While how much money does this man want/need?). This government and it's corporate sponsors are rather exploitative; I believe they've sold us out; they've given Charlie all the money and he wants more. If they want people to work hard then the people need something to work for, that's where their "culture" needs to change. Meanwhile the piddling problems of millionaires and billionaires don't interest me.

[@MrC.1990]

What GP’s? I can’t even get a doctor most days.

[@BobbySpringer1]

As a GP I'd like to hear the A&E doctor's view on the best way to pressurise a water system. Get rid of the gravitational tank?

[@sayitlikeitis8759]

Who can actually get a gp appointment these days?

[@billywhizz5692]

Why doesn't he stamp out giving mps family back handers ?

[@BrianMcGuirkBMG]

Charlie just sees the rest of us as economic units only good for the work he can squeeze out of them and then cast them aside as soon as they're no longer useful.

[@TheBT]

"Lazy culture" Productivity has increased much more than wages.

[@ati832]

Charlie needs to be signed of sick for that face melting of him.

[@Andymac1701A]

Wow, what a great person to discuss such a serious matters. Why did you make this about mental health and not general illness? If we do concentrate on mental health, if you want people brought back to health, you need to provide them with genuine support which just is not available to most people. A health professional can diagnose a person with health issues, but there is no pathway back to health which needs to be addressed first.

[@Jeremiah59]

Someone with a hammer, everything will look like a nail. The problem is the partiality of the medical assessors, as the controversey over work capability assessments has shown. Assessors get bonusses which creates bias.

[@somthingbrutal]

past time this tory government was binned

[@kalebdaark100]

I know when I was doing shifts, I couldn't manage that much happy after a night shift. The man is super human.

[@Sovereign-kh4ng]

Remember Charlie has a face that tells you all you need to know about his decedent lifestyle.

[@essealants3730]

Charlie the guy who mass sacked his british worker and hired forigen workers, and still voted for brexit, the man is a disaster

[@ManGoatHamburger]

Rod Stewart’s just walked into a glass door.

[@davidsutherland2572]

From which survey does Charlie know this who has he gone and checked out to know that's what people are doing I think it's a case of some that are trying to get that to work by just saying it is. Including the government

[@peeg09]

He looks like he's asked a plastic surgeon to make him look like Barry Manilow.

[@matthewclifton2510]

Improve mental health provision before anything else. Dont forget this Charlie wanted to force his employees to receive the Covid jab or not work for him .. not the best placed to give a view worth listening to.

[@hawkeye3905]

💥

[@hawkeye3905]

Charlie the Covid Cheerleader 😂

[@richardtownsend6996]

Someone has been to Turkey….

[@markmcbride678]

And it's not gone well 😂😂

[@britnatzaredemocracydenier5922]

Chucky Charlie the plastic doll

[@gracel630]

Maybe if people weren’t doing 2/3 people’s jobs they wouldn’t end up off sick

[@wendyarchergym]

The real issue with this plan, is the number of patients that will have to see these new individuals and of course it will be done by a PRIVATE, (for profit) company, that will not hit targets etc. Just like all the other private contracts that have been set up to improve the state systems.

[@sharonramsey715]

Why do we have Charlie Mullins talking against a doctor. Does Mullins need the advertising that much. He knows nothing about health all he wants is to work his workers into the ground. I’m sure a qualified doctor knows more than the other three people sitting in this so called interview.

[@robsimpson5066]

If you can manage to get an appointment with a GP you’re a lot healthier than you think you are.

[@kmag7122]

face-lift he still thinks he 18 🤡🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@lesleyevans4753]

Dont allow the Government to dictate what you can do Dr come to Australia we need you

[@Big_Gaz_1]

Lol the botox plumber called in to bleat about sick days...

[@joshslater-qn5fg]

On one end of the panel we have a licensed professional who spent years training to master his expertise in a complicated, always evolving field and on the other we have…a guy who gets richer every time you clock in.

[@lydiep6814]

We all have mental health just the same as physical health but not everyone has mental illness.

[@jacqui7261]

Why is Charlie on talking about this

[@RachelRiley1975]

Seriously accusing drs of what exactly...they train in the job for years.

[@susanparkauntiesuze5447]

The GP’s probably do not have sufficient time to really get to know their patients.

[@wormfriend5625]

If I had to work for Charlie I would be off sick too!

[@ENG5759]

Pay more wages, reduce pension age and watch the MH problems start to decrease.

[@PeterNorton-p9x]

Seems to me these days post COVID, mental health is now the new bad back. Few people dare to challenge anything for fear of ridicule.

[@carolined5923]

Something thatz not being said.. Most people these days DO NOT GET PAID while off sick.. most people work from home these days and work even if they are not well. Whats Sunak and the govts excuse for not doing their work..none of them are fit for purpose and its not because of illness.

[@Tom-w3d8u]

If the crime minister is going to allow a medical assistant to decide whether you are fit to work, will he call an election at the earliest opportunity, and let the people decide who is fit to govern,now that's something I would be happy to support,

[@JustAThought916]

cant the doctors secretary do it god knows they know everything else the doctor doesn't

[@LioKBio]

Well put Dr Emeka👌

[@kmag7122]

disgusting behaviour picking on disability benefits my god

[@valeriemeldrum7072]

No ! It's the doctors who diagnose and should know the patient best and should make that decision.Perhaps they need to be less lenient and send the person for further assessment if needed just like you have to see someone before you get a blue badge or update of one. People should be given health support rather than sick notes where there is an opportunity to do so.

[@JohnHollyoak-vx6pn]

With his money you’d think he could afford a decent barber.

[@clairebillinger639]

Pimlico guy needs to look at the culture of his business to see why the employees don't want to be there

[@patmackenney9786]

All this idea is likely to accomplish i punish a vast honest sick people to punish a very few cheats, causing a huge amount of misery and who will be able to write sick notes if not doctors. The mind boggles. Probably a group of people with no idea who is sick and who isn't but paid to say people are well even if they clearly aren't.

[@cantstartit]

Ifully support this its long overdue.

[@carolineteal9955]

My god that’s why the docs work hard to know what they are talking about ,if you’re not a go how would you know if they are sick my god leave the go alone

[@DoFeedThePigeons]

What an idealistic world these elites think it is 😂

[@vidalmontgomery4400]

1. The Seven Principles of Public Life The Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as the Nolan Principles) apply to anyone who works as a public office-holder. This includes all those who are elected or appointed to public office, nationally and locally, and all people appointed to work in the Civil Service, local government, the police, courts and probation services, non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), and in the health, education, social and care services. All public office-holders are both servants of the public and stewards of public resources. The principles also apply to all those in other sectors delivering public services. 1.1 Selflessness Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest. 1.2 Integrity Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships. 1.3 Objectivity Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias. 1.4 Accountability Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this. 1.5 Openness Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing. 1.6 Honesty Holders of public office should be truthful. 1.7 Leadership Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and treat others with respect. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

[@agneskrzy803]

The Charlie guys is a joke why they keep inviting him ?

[@terryloftus3207]

Typical Tory,strong to the weak.

[@dalebenton3354]

I think so to a point,Still got people on sick when they not even sick at all,Benefits all need looking at again,To those who get sick pay and not even sick and choose not to work,Other wise might as well put every one else through the whole nation all on sick

[@humptydumphty]

This is why we couldng find GPs last 3 years so the government could bring another private company to do snother nhs job. I only blame lazy GPs for this but doctors tasted earning more elsewhere so thry advocating this

[@Explosivo55]

A DWP assessment decides if you're unable to work, a doctors sick note just initiates a DWP assessment call up

[@Mel87y]

No it doesn’t they could be genuinely sick not long term

[@Explosivo55]

@@Mel87y mental health isn't a short term sickness, and any short term sickness is obvious and reasonable to take off while you recover... its the long term sickness this line of argument is aimed at

[@Mel87y]

@@Explosivo55 a GP determines not a DWP assessment and not everyone is eligible. That’s all about money nothing else

[@Explosivo55]

@@Mel87y I'm long term sick, I know for a fact my doctor note was only so good until i had a DWP assessment that decided i was limited work capability and didn't have to search for work as you have too when claiming jobseekers. if they decided i was fit for work the doctors note was no good, i would have to search for work

[@Mel87y]

@@Explosivo55 but it’s not the dwp who determine this it’s your GP and that’s an assessment for money nothing else

[@user-ch7ri7sm7h]

Who cares about poundshop Rod Stewarts opinion

[@joprocter4573]

No a pharamacy assistant. Ambulance driver Failed medics do not qualify as authority.we pay nhs millions to do job professionally and higher good of human being.

[@forealg]

While Alcohol abuse is fine.

[@tonyrobinson362]

Gerry Andersons puppets looked better than Charlie.

[@dalebenton3354]

well if people become ill,Nothing wrong with taking a few days of work,Every one gets ill at times,I do as well,Not go to the DWP say can I have a sick note I got cold or I cold a headache or a sickness bug....ect

[@ronstriebig2749]

Capitalism isthe sick note

[@AwkwardTwin]

Charlie is solely interested in personal financial gain and lacks the medical qualifications to diagnose illnesses.

[@fatwalletboy2]

Well i wonder if employers liability insurers can in turn sue the gov after a work accident or death if an employee forced (which lets face it is what this is in all but name) back to work when their GP doesnt deem them fit but some no mark civil servant qualified only through attendance of a 2 day " training course" decides the opposite (afterall they are incentivised to make that unilsteral decision to get them off benefits) ? This is the thin end of the wedge....... Pity brits arent out on the streets protesting against this.....its just once again goibg after our most vunerable and I am now realky sick and tired of this kind of attack based on myth and legend....most people like work keeps them active and earning better thsn benefits.......sunaks just making it up to fit his narrative.

[@andrewmcewan8081]

what does a multi millionair know about whats going on in a doctors surgery .

[@rachelbrown4081]

Tell you what then lets get rid of all health care let bob from asda make the there mind on poor disabled suzie

[@jemma4511]

Sounds like a hr problem buddy smh

[@alasdairfinlayson]

Doctors should make the judgements, but a big burly guy to deliver them

[@abdulmoaw7304]

Haw many millionaire are sick can’t pay health