GP charging for blue badge letter - disabled child

Drs have always been private businesses. Nothing has changed.

I think it's one if those things that when we used to have "family doctors" they'd just have done- I know our GP filled forms in and would instruct the admin team that it was "no charge"; but these days so many GP practices are part of big businesses so there's no leeway.

It's a civil matter, not a a medical one.

Parking and blue badges is nothing to do with the NHS which is why it's charged for.

Same would be for a criminal matter, or insurance or housing.

It's not the GPs job to use their expertise on.

If anyone wants the GPs opinion to support whatever claim they're making outside of the GPs work, they should pay.

Absolutely standard practice- medical reports of this nature are not part of the NHS GMS contract with GP’s, so GP’s may charge you for it as the NHS does not pay them to provide that service. Which is fair enough, really, would you ask your solicitor to write you a letter for free? The fact your son is disabled does not change the fact the NHS has not contracted GP’s to provide the service (writing reports for a 3rd party) you require.

Some chose not to charge for some types of reports, some charge for all reports.

How are you privy to the decisions made in your DMs Borough?

The OP doesn’t know whether the LA would accept what you’ve listed, because she hasn’t yet sent in the application minus the GP letter. I should imagine that the EHCP advices will contain enough information for the assessors to see why a Blue Badge is necessary. My LA accepts EHCPs and I know of several children with SEN who do have a BB.

@ARichtGoodDram with high rate mobility DLA, you are automatically entitled to a blue badge. It is different for PIP, where, in England, enhanced PIP doesn’t always automatically entitle someone.

@C8H10N4O2 then whoever has told you that information has given you incorrect information.

The rules for being automatically entitled to a blue badge are standard across all councils in England. You can see the rules for automatic eligibility on the government’s website here.

Of course, those who don’t meet the automatic entitlement criteria are able to apply and be assessed. This is down to the individual council. And this is where other evidence comes in to play.

For DLA higher mobility you do automatically get a blue badge

Who else is going to do it? Who's got the medical knowledge and access to the records. Who else can verify, that's right, GP.

Regardless as to the reason, it’s still outside of the remit for a GP, so it’s unreasonable to expect it to be done for free.

Not in my experience.

Demands for extra documentation, private letters from GPs and Consultants, additional crap which takes time and money to gather is all a good delaying tactic and will deter some people entirely (especially those who lack the support with the process).

In my borough, so long as you have all your DLA docs and medical notes it will generally go through. Its slow but the eligibilities are honoured.

In my DM’s borough the stock initial response is “not eligible” then “privately funded extra docs”, then sometimes still a rejection (all after filling in umpteen hundred pages of forms). Like Kent they know full well that a tribunal will overturn 99% of the rejections but that all takes time as well. A nice bit of stringing it out will save them a couple of years of costs on a blue badge and with luck the process becomes insurmountable for the poor sod needing transport.

Yes pretty standard unfortunately. Can the school not provide a supporting letter? They did for my DD’s blue badge application.

My area is known as a difficult area to get a blue badge as well. I just used ECHP, DLA letter, diagnosis report and it asks you to describe in detail what the issues are and why it would be beneficial to have one. Might be worth applying for it without the doctors letter and then if it’s refused pay for the letter and apply again.

You don't automatically get a Bb for high mobility.

It depends on which part of mobility you get the rate for

Yes but ask for it to be reduced if you are in receipt of benefits?

Yes it’s normal for a GP to charge.

Does he get high rate mobility? If he does then he should automatically get a blue badge.

if not do you have any reports from paediatrician, OT, SaLT, etc that show that he meets the criteria?

id be tempted to gather everything you do have and if they decline then ask for a GP report and appeal.

It depends on the route ,my son gets it automatically because he gets HRM,because he has severe mental impairment and that has nothing to.do with how far he can walk.

@YellowDuster12
Fucking hell How rude and ignorant are you?!! It’s you looking to cause a scrap
Get a fucking life

Yes, it is I’m afraid as it is outside their contract.
Years ago I took my passport photo to my gp appointment for countersignature.He had his pen in his hand anyway

It's the council ego administer blue badges and not the DWP

I think it's pretty clear the OP started this thread cos they fancied a bit of a scrap.

If they have time to behave like this online then I'm sure they have time to go and earn the money to pay for this letter.