MED3s? Fit notes? Sick notes? Call them what you will; the document where you indicate a lorry driver has broken their leg and "May be fit for work" with "Amended duties".

Only the following five healthcare professionals (HCPs) can complete/certify MED3s:

• Doctors
• Nurses
• Occupational Therapists
• Pharmacists
• Physiotherapists

This cannot be delegated to other HCPs or support staff.

Source: Gov.uk "Who can issue fit notes?"

Speed up re-issuing

Ensure the HCPs listed above know how to Re-issue a eMED3 with new time period using an existing eMED3 entry. The HCP will, as a minimum, need to add the new validity period. e.g. 6 weeks

Other information is copied from the MED3 selected: Not fit/May be fit for work, diagnosis, comments, and items such as Altered hours and Amended duties. 

Re-issue from 'MED3 Statements'

Re-issue from 'Tabbed Journal'

Staff get a prompt about 'Issued by hand'?

Staff member is not on the HCP list above

This is correct. They should only proceed if they have the handwritten MED3 from an HCP above (or a copy of it to record from). This should only be necessary following incidents such as power outtages that prevented the HCP producing an eMED3 with the clinical system. It would be best practice for the HCP to be record their own entries from this period; they can manually mark the MED3 as 'Issued by hand' to avoid a duplicate.

Staff member is on the HCP list above

Their National ID is likely missing from their SystmOne profile.

Correct this in Setup > Users & Policy > Staff & Organisation Setup

From TPP's MED3 User Guide:

"Doctors must have a valid GMC ID,

Nurses must have a valid NMC ID,

Occupational Therapists must have a valid HCPC ID that starts with OT,

Physiotherapists in must have a valid HCPC ID that starts with PH,

Pharmacists must have a valid RPSGB or GPhC ID."

Source: Help > Support & FAQs > Documents & Training Guides