Page 8 | To think GPs shouldn’t charge for these letters?

SerendipityJane · 31/08/2025 10:38

CagneyNYPD1 · 31/08/2025 09:17

But yes I do agree that a GP letter should be much cheaper.

You mean we should all pay for them.

Why ?

themoonandtenbob · 31/08/2025 10:36

For info -

https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/gp-practices/gp-service-provision/what-services-gp-practices-can-and-cannot-charge-for

TheWickerWoman · 31/08/2025 10:36

Lostare · 31/08/2025 10:23

@TheWickerWoman would this print out list medication that isn’t listed under prescriptions on the NHS app and that I don’t have a copy of a prescription for? Theres 62 prescriptions showing in the app, including amoxicillin i was prescribed in 1998, but not the medicine I inject myself with twice weekly! If so, I will try that too, thank you.

It should definitely be added to your prescription page on practice records as an active medication but under a section called ‘hospital medication’ which would appear alongside your active repeat medication but a bit further down. (All of the old stuff shouldn’t appear on the printout)

This all depends on if your Surgery has coded it to your records when the Consultant has written to them about your care. They absolutely should have.

I would say definitely go and get one, have a look. If it’s not coded to your records then it needs to be because all of your relevant and active medical care/conditions/prescriptions should show on that summary.

PollyBell · 31/08/2025 10:36

Lostare · 31/08/2025 10:34

How much do people think others should have to pay for the pleasure of being chronically ill? The amount of lost hours at work, prescriptions, travel etc, I’m probably well over £30,000 now.

I don’t think it’s that extreme to think it should be free to have a copy of a prescription or some sort of evidence of medication you take, particularly so when you’re injecting it in yourself.

I think lots of people are choosing to ignore the part where this sort of medicine is clearly one of the only types that doesn’t automatically come with a prescription or on the NHS app.

I dont see people ignoring anything people just don't agree

TTC1x · 31/08/2025 10:34

Is it infliximab, OP? We have taken it abroad (for my partner) many many times as we visit family abroad every month. Never needed a GP letter or anything. Never had questions on it either.

Original poster

Lostare · 31/08/2025 10:34

How much do people think others should have to pay for the pleasure of being chronically ill? The amount of lost hours at work, prescriptions, travel etc, I’m probably well over £30,000 now.

I don’t think it’s that extreme to think it should be free to have a copy of a prescription or some sort of evidence of medication you take, particularly so when you’re injecting it in yourself.

I think lots of people are choosing to ignore the part where this sort of medicine is clearly one of the only types that doesn’t automatically come with a prescription or on the NHS app.

OP posts:

Keepingittogetherstepbystep · 31/08/2025 10:33

Do you have a copy of the letters sent to your GP from the hospital

The meds they prescribe will usually be listed on there.

themoonandtenbob · 31/08/2025 10:33

TroysMammy · 31/08/2025 09:19

Assuming the GP has agreed to shared care just ask for a print out of your medication list. If the hospital provides your medication ask the consultant who prescribed the medication for a letter.

The GP's priority is NHS work and corresponding with other medical people/departments not free letters to TUI or Easyjet.

Exactly.

If a GP is dictating a letter then he isn't doing any NHS work and is probably doing it in his own time.

He has a right to charge for that.

Duechristmas · 31/08/2025 10:31

CagneyNYPD1 · 31/08/2025 09:16

I’m a bit confused. Are you sure you need a letter? I have a prescription for an injectable medication. I kept it all in its box with the pharmacy sticker on the box. And a copy of the prescription as proof. I flew in and out of Heathrow, Germany and Italy this summer with no problems.

Is your medication a controlled substance or over 100ml?

Even controlled medication can go through with a copy of your prescription and your name on the box.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 31/08/2025 10:30

£55 sounds very steep.

I once needed a letter to prove I was too ill to travel for insurance purposes, and it was £25. That’s more the leave I would expect.

SaltedPotato · 31/08/2025 10:29

OP email the IBD team and get them to confirm you have this on prescription. You do all the hard work, state in your email exactly what you want them to confirm. Then print off the email/have the email available. Add proof any copies of clinic letters that reference them and I suspect you should be fine.

justasoul · 31/08/2025 10:27

People saying take a copy of the prescription: it goes from the hospital pharmacy directly to the provider. I’ve never seen my prescription. It’s not on the NHS app either.

PollyBell · 31/08/2025 10:27

Of course I would expect to pay, they are not there as patients personal assistants

Zov · 31/08/2025 10:26

Lostare · 31/08/2025 09:10

Flying soon (cheap flights and staying with family). I take injectable medication bi-weekly an autoimmune condition. I will be due to take this when I’m away.
I asked my GP for a letter confirming it’s prescribed medication so I can take it through the airport and they’ve requested £55 to give me this.
AIBU to think this is a ridiculous amount? I’m now stuck between not paying it and leaving my medicine at home, risking my condition flaring up, vs paying it and losing half my budget for my holiday!
is this a usual amount?

If you can afford a holiday abroad, then you can afford to pay for the letter. Do you expect the doctor to work for free, after the best part of a decade training and getting into huge debt to become a doctor? Doctors don't do these letters in NHS times you know, they do it in their own time. You are paying for private doctor time. YABVU, and massively so @Lostare !!!

SaratogaFilly · 31/08/2025 10:25

GameWheelsAlarm · 31/08/2025 10:18

A GP's job is to help you manage your health, not to facilitate your holiday. The time spent writing that letter ould have been used to give another sick person the appointment they are waiting for. Of course you should pay. But do check if it's necessary. For most medicines and most countries, the label on the box showing it is prescribed to you, and a copy of the prescription (screengrab of the relevant screen in the NHS app if you are paperless) is all you need. If the medicine is an illegal drug in the country you are visiting that might require more.

This!

Themagicclaw · 31/08/2025 10:25

This is non-NHS work, so it's reasonable to charge for it. GPs get paid by the NHS for contracted work.

You can get copies of your clinical letters for free, presumably your consultant writes to your GP confirming what they're prescribing. In this case I'd just ask for that. Your consultant is likely to charge for a specific letter too.

If you want a specific "to whom it may concern" letter written describing your meds etc, how much do you think it ought to cost?

I do private work and bill in 30 minute chunks of time. I then pay my secretary for the admin out of what I bill. I recently needed a 2 line solicitor's letter and got charged £110. I felt that was very reasonable for her time and expertise.

Tistheseason17 · 31/08/2025 10:24

Lostare · 31/08/2025 10:16

We don’t have the national lawyer service so it’s not comparable. I do value GPs but (for now) it’s a public service, paid for by tax and understood as a necessity and importance. If my child’s teacher asked for £55 for a letter about her education, I’d be outraged too. Yet I value both their professions immensely.

Writing a letter for your holiday is not NHS work.
You are not entitled to it for free on the NHS.
It is comparable to other private services. Pretty sure hair cuts, nails, eyelashes, gym etc all cost same if not more.
Stop getting on your high horse and either pay your GP (who hasn't even prescribed it first you!) Or spend your time contacting the consultant rather than complaining that a GP will charge even though it's easier for you to get a hold of them.

Your letter takes them away from doing actual NHS funded work. Pay or go to your consultant.

Original poster

Lostare · 31/08/2025 10:23

@TheWickerWoman would this print out list medication that isn’t listed under prescriptions on the NHS app and that I don’t have a copy of a prescription for? Theres 62 prescriptions showing in the app, including amoxicillin i was prescribed in 1998, but not the medicine I inject myself with twice weekly! If so, I will try that too, thank you.

OP posts:

moose62 · 31/08/2025 10:23

I travelled with prefilled pens and wrapped them in tin foil with an icepack in my luggage. They went into the hold, which is cold but does not freeze so I didn't have to provide anything!

AnotherAngryAcademic · 31/08/2025 10:22

MonsterMunched · 31/08/2025 10:15

We use Frío pouches for insulin.

Show quote history

Frio pouches are not suitable for (some) biologics. Hence the need for ice packs, and the reason the prescribing department have a standard letter…😊

TeamsBleep · 31/08/2025 10:21

I presume this is because GPs get so many requests. As a hospital consultant, if my patients require a letter about something, I just do it and we don’t charge anything. Hospitals are a different set up though to GP practices.

Digdongdoo · 31/08/2025 10:21

Of course GPs should charge for non NHS work. It's not an unreasonable amount either. I paid £155 for a health declaration form. Time is expensive. It's the cost of going away, the NHS isn't there to facilitate holidays.

TheWickerWoman · 31/08/2025 10:20

OP I work as a GP Secretary too. I think everything I wanted to say has been covered, for the record we do get lots of these requests weekly and they are time consuming. We charge £35 per private letter.

What I wanted to say is ask for a summary printout from your practice. It can be done by Reception and takes around a minute to do there and then. I always advise patients to do this and I stamp it for them, it’s free, it lists all prescriptions on your records and I’ve never had any comeback that it was not accepted.

Pinkissmart · 31/08/2025 10:19

Op if you would feel better having a letter, then just consider it part of the cost of travel. 🤷‍♀️

IGaveSoManySigns · 31/08/2025 10:19

Lostare · 31/08/2025 10:16

We don’t have the national lawyer service so it’s not comparable. I do value GPs but (for now) it’s a public service, paid for by tax and understood as a necessity and importance. If my child’s teacher asked for £55 for a letter about her education, I’d be outraged too. Yet I value both their professions immensely.

But what letter would you need?

this isn’t an NHS service - it’s to enable you to go on holiday. It’s a private service. Imagine how many requests they get a week? It would take up all their time! My dad’s GP charged £160 for a medical certificate for an insurance claim. It’s just how it goes