GPs will blacklist patients who pull sickies using forged doctor’s notes selling on web for £10
Online stores offering the fake documents claim they can forge them from people’s family doctors
DOCTORS could strike off patients who use fake medical notes to pull a sickie.
Legal experts say those who buy the fake documents – for as little as £10 – risk being removed from their practice’s register.
Websites offering the notes claim they can forge them from people’s family doctors.
reports that one website, DoctorsNote Store, offers "guaranteed 48-hour delivery" of an "authentic-looking replica doctors sick note certificate on official doctors’ notepaper".
But writing in the Medical Defence Union Dr Ellie Mein said doctors are now coming to them for advice after discovering their information had been used fraudulently when employers contacted them wanting to verify sick notes.
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Dr Mein, a legal adviser for medics, said: “There are even various sites online that offer advice on how to convincingly forge a sick note or that allow you to buy replica NHS sick notes.
“We receive variations on this query, from forged prescriptions and genuine sick notes altered to prolong the duration of the sick leave, through to more elaborate letters that have been created entirely from scratch.”
She said patients can be removed from doctor’s lists as long as a warning is given first.
Dr Mein added: “The General Medical Services contract suggests doctors can remove a patient from their list if they have reasonable grounds.
“However, except in specific circumstances, it is expected that the patient would have been given a warning in the preceding 12 months explaining they are at risk of removal and why.”
DoctorsNoteStore.com sells documents designed to look identical to those from an NHS doctor.
The note details the illness of the buyer’s choice, the number of ‘sick’ days needed and the facility they supposedly attended.
In a disclaimer, the firm, based in Crewe, Cheshire, states: “Any item sold or issued by us are not authentic doctor’s notes, or other document from any hospital, clinic or government institution.
“They are only to be used as novelty items for gags gifts, theatrical productions, video productions etc. The use of these items for any other purpose is strongly condemned by us.”
Health officials say disclaimers mean it would be very difficult to take action against such firms.
Sun Online has contacted DoctorsNoteStore for comment.
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