New data reveals tens of thousands of sick notes that exempt patients from work were handed out in Oldham last year while nationwide figures show a record number of people out of work.

GPs have been able to give patients electronic 'fit notes' since 2012 which say whether a patient is too sick to return to work or give other recommendations, such as a phased return to work.

Figures by NHS Digital show 53,522 notes were given to patients in the former NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group area in the year to June, though patients may have received multiple notes over the course of the year.

Still, this is the equivalent of 35,283 for every 100,000 registered working-age patients in the borough.

Nationwide, the figures reveal the number of people out of work due to sickness is at an all-time high with the number of fit notes rising to 10.4 million this year - up from 8.6 per cent from 9.5 million in the 12 months to June 2019.

There has also been an increase in the number of fit notes given for longer durations with 132,000 given for leave of 20 weeks or longer in the same time period, up 42 per cent from 93,000 three years prior.

Across the country, 42 per cent (4.3 million) of all fit notes were for leave of a month or longer in the year to June, up from 34 per cent (3.3 million) in 2018-19.

Separate data from the Office for National Statistics reveal 2.49 million people are deemed 'economically inactive' due to ill health.

Long Covid and lengthy waiting lists for NHS treatment since the start of the pandemic could be contributing to the rise in workers being signed off for longer periods, it has been suggested.

The Health Foundation, a charity which researches healthcare, warns long-term ill health is having profound consequences on workers, employers and the government's finances and said that the rise in sickness duration was "incredibly worrying".

Assistant director of the charity, Dave Finch, said: "It will be bad news for employers, especially in areas with severe skills shortages – and it will add costs for the state too, when pressures are going up and money available is going down.”

However, Mr Finch also said businesses need to be open to mitigating circumstances for their employees, and that the government should consider greater financial support for workers while they are off sick.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “For anyone with a disability or long-term health condition, including long Covid, there is a strong financial safety net, including Statutory Sick Pay, Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit."