Doctors letters

[sophiesocks]

really glad this thread popped up as my children's letters need renewing now!

[irrelevant]

I have recently changed Doctor and in their website it says "Fitness to Exercise Certificate/Performance Certificate: £50-£75. My DDs agency want me to have a valid letter at all times - yeah right! I was just wondering whether this might be some other kind of certificate but I can't think what. My old Doctor used to sign the form and then pat my DD on the head and say get Mummy to buy you some sweeties with the money!

£75 is way too high .. If they dare try and charge that, refer them to the BMA Fees Page ...recommended levels seem to be

a) Straightforward certificates of fact - £16.50
b) More complex certificates - £28.00 to £58.50

£10 seems a positive bargain! I think ours charges £15, but they seem to make their charges up as they go along...

[pinky3]

Thank you - that's really helpfull.

[pinky3]

Just thinking - these are only suggested fees so maybe the GP can charge what they want anyway , especially as we don't have an alternative!

[Josmum]

I suppose they could and you could expect to pay a lot more if you go private. Our last NHS GP didn't charge at all but our new one (after moving) charges 15. It doesn't seem fair to charge more than that. DD's agency expects a current one every 6 months.

[TalyaB]

The first time DS needed a letter (2.5 years ago) we had an appointment, routine examination and paid £25 for the letter, but at the time I arranged with the doctor that he would assume lack of visits to be proof of good health and would do future letters for free (might have helped that we have a friend who's a GP at another practice nearby, who said he'd do letters for free, so I said we'd leave if I kept being charged). Obviously if DS had any health issues, we'd go to the doctor, and then I wouldn't mind paying (for the letter, not to see the doctor).

[Caroline A-C]

Our GP was terrible. I had to get a letter to say dd was fit to take up a place at a performing arts school. Took the offer letter to the surgery which clearly stated what I needed. Two and a half weeks later they apologised saying that they had lost the letter I required and would need to redo it. I then went to collect this and they had lost the original letter which was my daughter's actual offer letter. For this dreadful service they wanted to charge me £30! However, I did get them to reimburse that due to their incompetence - has anybody else had problems. Just as well it wasn't for a licence where there is very little notice!

[poohstix]

We are very lucky in that when we have an appt we take the letter with us and the dr signs it there and then and doesn't charge. It seems from what iv'e read that G.P's can charge whatever they like for this service which seems odd to me. Def sticking with our GP