Patients will be able to present electronic forms to employers and government agencies
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Doctors in Guernsey are to trial the use of digital medical certificates.
The pilot, which will get underway in the next few weeks, will allow patients to receive electronic documentation that can be digitally supplied to employers or used to claim benefits online, or presented on a mobile device during face-to-face meetings
The trials represent a joint effort on behalf of the States of Guernsey’s committees for Primary Care and Employment and Social Security.
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The use of digital medical certificates also forms part of the SMART Guernsey programme, a long-term drive to roll out digital public services across the island. This work will be supported by IT firm Agilisys, with which Guernsey has signed a 10-year contract.
Dr Paul Williams, chair of the Primary Care Committee said: “GPs have very much welcomed this opportunity to support the development of a digital medical certificate. Not only will it support patients to claim their benefit more quickly, but employers will be informed about the reason for absence from work more quickly too. This digital version gives GPs more opportunity to provide employers with advice to support their staff back to work as quickly as possible.”
Deputy Michelle Le Clerc, president of the Committee for Employment and Social Security added: “I very much hope that patients offered the option of a digital medical certificate during the trial will take it up. It will fast track benefit claims and enable patients to send a digital version of the employer’s copy of the certificate to their place of work without delay.”