Rather than rest being the best remedy for back pain, for example, research now shows it can actually delay recovery and make things worse. Advising patients to stay active can help them get back to work and on with their life.

The case raises important issues that affect the public's right to know and the government's ability to use the attorney-client privilege as a shield to deny access to documents that reflect its operations at the highest levels.

Given the right support most people claiming incapacity benefits can be helped back to work, ... Now we've brought down unemployment to a 30-year low and have half a million vacancies in the economy there's no reason for all this talent and potential to go to waste.

The forthcoming White Paper on public health will recognize the beneficial role some work can have in helping people recover from illnesses or disease. And it will emphasize the damaging effects of being out of work -- urging the NHS to see return to work as the norm.

For people who are able to work again, a job can be itself an important step in the road to recovery and rehabilitation.

Often a patient will think they want a sicknote, when the best advice a critical friend can give might not meet their initial expectations,