Data shows that more than 1.1 million people were signed off sick in the first three months of this year, an increase of almost 40,000 on the same period last year.
NHS figures also show that GPs issued more long-term sick leave, meaning sick leave lasting more than five weeks, and that this was concentrated mainly in the north-west of England.
In London, the central counties and rural Yorkshire the lowest number of sick leave certificates, also known as “fit certificates”, were issued per capita.
According to new data published by the NHS today, the number of medical certificates issued in January, February and March fell slightly, by 1.2 per cent, compared with last year. The total number of medical certificates issued by GPs rose to 2,934,256.
However, the number of “sick leave episodes” — or illnesses that required medical leave — increased by 3.5 percent.
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The government has made it a priority to get people off benefits and NHS waiting lists and back to work (File image)
NHS data shows that GPs have signed more long-term sick leave certificates, also known as “fitness certificates”, this year compared to last year
This indicates that where previously a single disease might be covered by multiple disease reports, more long-term disease reports are now being written.
Separate figures show the number of sick days of five weeks or more was 1,186,059 in the first three months of this year, compared with 1,151,408 in the same period last year.
Lancashire, Cumbria, Merseyside and Manchester had the highest number of sick leave per 100,000 people.
Overall, Blackpool had the highest rate of illness, at 4,323 per 100,000 people in March this year.
North-west London had the lowest rate, at 1,445 per 100,000 people.
In 37 percent of cases where a diagnosis was provided, mental and behavioral disorders were cited as the reason for issuing a medical discharge.
The scale of Britain’s sick leave culture was laid bare in April when it emerged that the amount handed out had doubled in less than a decade.
Last year doctors issued 11 million sick leave notes in England, up 108 per cent from 5.3 million in 2015.
Campaigners have called for an overhaul of the system to curb long-term sickness absence, warning it is stifling the economy and creating an unsustainable welfare bill.
One-third of people who are put on sick leave are out of work for four weeks or more, and after that time 20 percent will never return to work.
More evidence suggests that once staff are furloughed for six months, 80 percent will never return.
Last year, an incredible 186 million work days were lost due to illness or injury, with an increasing number of people absent for extended periods due to mental health problems or behavioural disorders.
Meanwhile, the Office for Budget Responsibility has forecast that spending on incapacity and disability benefits will rise by 49 per cent to £90.9 billion between 2023/24 and 2028/29.
