"Although employers cannot resolve wider NHS capacity pressures, they can take a more proactive approach to workforce health."
- Brett Hill - Broadstone
The latest NHS England data on fit notes has revealed that 2.8 million sick notes were issued in the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year, covering April and June 2026.
Across this period, 2.59 million or 92.2% of all sick notes issued were deemed 'not fit for work', as opposed to 217,254 or 7.8% deemed 'may be fit to work'. This would include advice such as a phased return, altered hours, amended duties and an adapted workplace.
The number of sick notes issued has risen by 163,940 from 2.64 million in the same period last year, and is 137,813 higher than the 2.66 million issued in the same quarter two years ago.
"The latest sick note figures make for concerning reading," Brett Hill, head of health & protection at Broadstone, said. "Of the 2.8 million sick notes issued in England between April and June, more than nine in ten declared people 'not fit for work', while fewer than one in ten indicated they may be able to work with adjustments.
"With sick note numbers also up on the same period last year, there is a growing need to focus on how the system can better support people to remain in, or return to, employment.
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"Delays accessing NHS care, from GP appointments to specialist treatment, risk allowing manageable health problems to become long-term barriers to working.
"Mental health and musculoskeletal conditions are among the leading reasons for sick notes, and timely support can make a real difference to recovery for these issues.
"For employers, prolonged sickness absence brings a double challenge - retaining skilled employees while protecting productivity.
"Although employers cannot resolve wider NHS capacity pressures, they can take a more proactive approach to workforce health through early intervention, health screening, private GP access and targeted wellbeing support.
"The Autumn Budget is an opportunity to make prevention more affordable. Introducing tax incentives for employers to invest in workplace wellbeing and healthcare benefits would improve access to healthcare for employees, helping more employers provide staff with access to much-needed care, and support the government’s Keep Britain Working ambitions."
