FAMILY doctors feel down in the mouth about the sickness certification system for patients.
They feel they operate a "sick certificate on demand" system, the British Medical Association has found.
And Huddersfield GPs want the system changed so that their "gatekeeper" role is removed.
Currently patients see their GP if they have been off work for more than seven days.
If ill for fewer than seven days, patients fill in a self-certification form.
A survey of 67 GPs found that most believed the system failed to address complex, chronic or doubtful cases.
Dr Bharat Bhasin, chairman of the Huddersfield Local Medical Committee, said: "This has been the situation for a long time. I cannot say it is satisfactory or perfect. There is a fair bit of abuse at times from people. Something has to be done to improve things."
