Sickness certificates up seven per cent

Doctors have issued almost 9,000 more sickness certificates in the first six months of this year than in the same period last year, according to figures obtained by The Times.

Just under 129,000 sickness certificates were issued between January and June compared with 120,046 in the same period last year, a 7.5 per cent rise.

Almost half of the sickness certificates this year, 59,774, have been issued to public sector, corporation and bank employees.

The highest number of medical certificates, 24,358, was issued in January, while the lowest, 16,543, was recorded in June. The first few months of the year tend to be the worst since the influenza virus affects the general population while the figure rises again in the last three months of the year.

Medical certificates are issued and signed by doctors on the first day of the medical examination, though the Department of Social Security pays the sickness benefit from the fourth day of certified sickness.

Eighteen months ago, the Social Security Department sent warning letters to 200 doctors for issuing an excessive number of sickness certificates to certain patients for the same condition. One particular doctor was found to have issued more than 3,500 sickness certificates in eight months.

The Employment and Training Corporation had also decided to take action after coming across several cases of sickness certificates being issued without just cause to people registering as unemployed.

Most private companies and the public sector make use of company doctors who call on employees to confirm the medical reports issued by the family doctors and health centres. The department verifies, or otherwise, extended sick leave applications through a medical panel and has a Benefit Fraud Directorate that investigates suspected abuse.

Meanwhile, 655 Invalidity Pension applications were submitted in the first six months of this year. There was a total of 1,323 such applications last year.