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Medical certificate information about a client's capacity for work

To decide if the client is unable to work full-time (or if they are required to reduce their hours of employment due to a health condition, injury or a disability) MSD should consider all the information provided on the medical certificate. The medical certificate will link the client's condition with their capacity for work.

MSD should consider information on the client's:

  • Diagnoses - the client's main health conditions or disabilities, and any relevant secondary health conditions or disabilities
  • Prognosis - the likely rate of improvement of the client's condition and its impact on their ability to work. The medical certificate will indicate when and to what extent, the client is capable of undertaking employment or what accommodations, supports or services are required
  • Capacity for work - the impact of the condition or disability on the client's capacity for work
  • Medical coverage - the recommended period a client's registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner (or dentist or midwife where relevant) considers a client should have their capacity for work reassessed

When deciding a client's capacity to work, MSD should not consider any restrictions they have to work in a certain job or occupation, as a result of their condition or injury.

Instead, MSD should consider the restrictions the client's health condition or disability may have on the type of work suitable for them. This includes a decision about whether the client should have work obligations, and the appropriate work related activities they should undertake.

If the impact on the client's capacity to work is unclear, questions regarding work capacity are in conflict, or additional support for their health condition or disability could be helpful, seek advice from the Regional Health Advisor or Regional Disability Advisor.

For more information see:

Legislation

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A dentist or dental practitioner is a health practitioner who is registered with the Dental Council of New Zealand and cares for any disease, disorder or condition of the teeth and associated structures.

Dentists can only sign medical certificates for conditions that have occurred because of dental work or dental conditions.

Medical coverage is the period of time a registered medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, dentist or midwife (where relevant) has medically determined a client is unable to work, due to their health condition, injury or disability.

The medical coverage should also tell MSD when the client will:

One of the registered health practitioners listed above will indicate the period of a client's medical coverage ...

A medical practitioner is commonly referred to as a doctor. Medical practitioners are health practitioners who are registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand as practitioners of the profession of medicine and hold a current practising certificate.

All medical practitioners have a unique identifying number called a Health Practitioners Index number (HPI number).

Medical practitioners don't need to have completed their training in New Zealand but must be registered with the New Zealand ...

Nurse practitioners are health practitioners who are registered with the Nursing Council of New Zealand and hold a current annual practising certificate.

Nurse practitioners are expert or specialist nurses with advanced education, clinical training and experience. They have demonstrated clinical competence and have the legal authority to practice as independent healthcare providers.

All nurse practitioners have a unique identifying number called a Health Practitioners Index number (HPI number).

Some nurse practitioners have specialised ...

A midwife is a health practitioner who is registered with the Midwifery Council of New Zealand and trained to provide necessary support, care and advice during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period up to 6 weeks, to facilitate births and to provide care for the newborn.

Midwives can only sign medical certificates for pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions within the range of the midwives' profession.

This includes signing medical certificates for complications ...