Doctors letters

[sophiesocks]

I have just been informed that next time I get a doctors letter for my children it will cost £40 each, I have 4 children who perform!!! I have told them that they will need to cover it from what they have earned in the previous 6 months as I cannot spend £160 on doctors letters! But I was wondering if there was any way we could get them cheaper as that is bonkers. This time I have been charged £17.50 each I cannot understand how they can justify them going up by more than 100% plus the lady on the phone was really rude and told me that writing the letters was really not a good use of doctors time and that they and far more important things to do.... and here's me being a responsible parent and making sure my children are always licensed when they work and that we do it all properly, very frustrating

[Dogcop]

May well be worth writing to the practice manager and explain your predicament. Surely a common sense approach by them is the way forward. I find if you go to the top you often get the desired outcome rather going through layers of minions, who more often than not are complete jobsworths !!!!

[Caroline A-C]

Doctors seem to be able to charge whatever they like as it is deemed private I believe. Suppose you could always print off four letters (one pertaining to each dc) and make an appointment to see your doctor and just ask whether he/she could just sign the letters. Cheeky but might be worth a try!!!!!

[sullyandmike]

Could they not just give you a letter to the effect of "ds age DOB, dd age DOB, ds age DOB and dd age DOB are deemed fit to perform blah blah blah....." that then covers them all.

I only have the one, so we've not had this situation.

[snookienoo]

Firstly type out the letter so they just have to sign, date and stamp.
Put all the kids names on one letter (we are with the same local authority so they should accept.
I hand ours into reception and pick up a few days later and therefore don't waste an appointment!
We sadly always pay but it's cheaper with all kids on one letter!

[snookienoo]

I have a letter sophiesocks if you need me to email you one.

[wissymo]

i always write the letter myself and then make an appiontment as normal and the doctor usually just signs it for me!
dont know if this is because i dont involve the reception and maybe neither does the doctor... worth a try xx

[siohip]

the letter I have is a certificate of fitness indicatng that doctor knows of no reason why dd cannot perform i.e no underlying health conditions etc. There is no examination required at that time. We would usually pay £15-20 for this.
I would speak to practice manager and explain that you don't need an examination or to use an appointment up and see if you c come to some arrangement. £40 a pop sems a little steep. They are however signing a document and taking responsibility for signing that your child is fit having supposedly looked through records etc and it isn't NHS work. Can't believe that thy couldn't do a BOGF!!!

[lilacspanishsun]

We have to pay for our doctors letters - it cost me £90 for three letters. I couldnt believe it. And they put the wrong age on the letter and then they just print it off after 6 months and only change the date at the top of the page. Easy money for them.

[wissymo]

wow..i now realise how lucky we are!! hope it continues

[sapphire]

I do object to having to pay for routine letters like this which they must surely have on the system and just print off. i had to pay £25 for a doctors note for school when my daughter had glandular fever earlier this year. I expected a very detailed letter about symptoms and how this might affect her academic performance ... instead I got one sentence - XX has had glandular fever which might affect her performance in her AS exams

[sapphire]

I do object to having to pay for routine letters like this which they must surely have on the system and just print off. i had to pay £25 for a doctors note for school when my daughter had glandular fever earlier this year. I expected a very detailed letter about symptoms and how this might affect her academic performance ... instead I got one sentence - XX has had glandular fever which might affect her performance in her AS exams

[livininabox]

Crikey...that must be incredibly frustrating (never mind expensive!) They aren't necessary in my area as a simple declaration of health signed by a parent is all the council require. But please have a little empathy with GPs too. It might seem expensive but they can be absolutely inundated with requests for health clearance, passport applications etc and primarily thats not what they're there for....especially in an NHS thats in the worst financial state ever! But i agree...£40 is very pricey!

[siohip]

I agree in a way re routine letters.... but if they are so routine what is their real point or value?
It seems to me that it is another case of someone somewhere working out a process/ red tape fest thinking- that'a a tick box - ask someone else for a letter to take responsibility-
The reality is that this responsibility really should be given back to parents. I understand why the process first started...but surely if someone is pushing a child into a production who is unfit it will become apparent quite quickly and that surely if that is a recurrent problem than child protection should become an issue. I think we are complaining about the wrong people and that we should just all complain about the process...which kind of stinks ( skulks off feeling is being a little contentious and waits to be beaten verbally.....)
but that wouldn't happen here..,

[pg]

I agree that the process stinks. It really does need overhauling, but I doubt that there is the political will for it and it won't be considered a priority by many people I don't suppose. I also agree that responsibility should be returned to parents.