Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be annoyed at GP practice for charging £20

108 replies

Booper13 · 17/05/2011 20:24

I'm 30 weeks pregnant and am taking a flight on Thursday. The airline require a confirmation from GP or midwife that I am medically fit to fly. I phoned GP surgery to ask about this and was told to come in and see GP. I did this and without examining me or doing any BP check or anything GP said he would dictate a letter and I could collect it today. When I went today I was told it would be £20. I was not advised either when I phoned or saw the GP that there would be a charge for this, so was quite surprised. Is this normal practice? Obviously I don't want bad relations with the surgery but I just wondered if this has happened to others.

OP posts:
zukiecat · 18/05/2011 18:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Glenshee · 14/01/2013 12:16

I need a letter to say that my 8 y.old is fit - for him to participate in a TV show, and that's £35.

Totally unreasonable for a piece of paper.

Pigsmummy · 14/01/2013 12:18

They have been doing this forever.

PPPPK · 12/08/2013 19:21

I have private medical insurance and my GP knew. Every time I see him, he will refer me to private clinic which I have to pay £20 for referral letter. Rules they set buy money we pay!!!

Bubbles1066 · 12/08/2013 19:55

I had to pay £50 for a letter to get them to take my son back in nursery, they were convinced he had a tummy bug- he doesn't. £50 and he isn't even ill. £20 sounds OK.

megsmouse · 12/08/2013 20:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

candycoatedwaterdrops · 12/08/2013 20:25

megs It's probably increased since 2011.

littlemisssarcastic · 12/08/2013 20:28

DS had campylobacter virus and had to have various antib's and samples taken. He was correctly told he could not return to work he works with food until he was completely free of the virus.
It took a week for the antib's to clear the virus, then it took a further 2 weeks for the GP to get the results back, all the time DS was only getting SSP since he hadn't worked for this particular employer for long enough for anything else.
After 3 weeks of running up debt to live, the GP told him the results were back, he was clear and a letter was waiting for him to collect at the surgery.
Only once he arrived at the surgery to pick the letter up was he told that it would cost him £30.
£30 he didn't have, since he had no money at all after 3 weeks with no work.
It took him another week to raise the £30 to be able to collect the letter and return to work, so the argument in some cases about the cost to taxpayer is not always right. Sometimes, it actually costs the taxpayer more.

MalcolmTuckersMistress · 12/08/2013 20:52

I think this is fair enough you know. I realise its a bit of an arse having to fork out for it, but they must have a lot of people asking for things to be written and signed all the time.

DinoSnores · 12/08/2013 21:08

"I need a letter to say that my 8 y.old is fit - for him to participate in a TV show, and that's £35.

Totally unreasonable for a piece of paper."

Firstly, it is not just a piece of paper. The doctor is taking responsibility for whatever they are signing based on their years of medical training, indemnified by their medical protection insurance (which we pay ourselves).

Secondly, it is not an NHS service. A doctor doesn't need to do it. A GP is employed to do NHS service. For private work, which most of them want to avoid because they are so busy with their NHS work, why not charge? Otherwise, you want the GP to contribute it for free out of their own time and pay.

candycoatedwaterdrops · 12/08/2013 21:10

This is a ZOMBIEEEEEE thread btw.

inneedofsomehelpplz · 12/08/2013 21:16

yabu.

Turniptwirl · 12/08/2013 21:19

Yanbu to think they should have made the cost clearer from the beginning but yabu to expect it for free.

FreeWee · 12/08/2013 21:36

I got a letter when I was 20 weeks flying long haul. Cost us for the letter so yep I guess this is usual.

CaptainSweatPants · 12/08/2013 21:41

fortune if its £20 to type a letter (10 mins max). They must be on a daily rate of £960 a day or an annual income of £249,600.

They don't do it all daythough , gp secretary's do it as well as making appointments, making cuppa's for the doctor etc etc

JerseySpud · 12/08/2013 21:42

YABU. Try being here where we pay £44 just to see a doctor. Then extra on top for tests, xrays, letters, forms etc

CaptainSweatPants · 12/08/2013 21:43

Ah old thread!
Hope op enjoyed her holiday & is enjoying her baby !!

Pigsmummy · 12/08/2013 22:56

This charge has been around since the dark ages. It's just because you didn't know that you are now miffed. YABU

ComposHat · 12/08/2013 22:56

YABU - you can afford a foreign holiday, so you should be able to bear the associated costs.

There is no medical need for you to have a holiday, so who do you think should pay for it, if not you?

ComposHat · 12/08/2013 22:58

Agggh another cunting zombie thread! Which idiot revived it?

holidaysarenice · 13/08/2013 01:00

When I did my first degree no charge was made for signing my fit to train form, 5 years later I needed another and I got it back from the gp with a lovely note wishing me all the best in my new career and a note on the bottom to admin to say no charge!!

I luf my gp!

sashh · 13/08/2013 05:50

MY Surgery has a list of charges up next to the reception desk, you can't miss it.

Most charges are about £8 though

cephalicdream2 · 13/08/2013 06:08

All insurance letters are optional and charged for. Some doctors prefer to keep their work only clinical and NHS and don't do them. Some do them and can't be bothered to charge for the odd thing . But really it's a favour ... Drs aren't lawyers and don't enjoy filling in lengthy insurance forms at all!

cephalicdream2 · 13/08/2013 06:10

The only ones we have to fill in are cremation forms. These are paid but most doctors don't accept it or give it o charity.

peachactiviaminge · 13/08/2013 07:15

£15 and a three week wait for a letter saying I have asthma. Meanwhile the council are calling every three days to ask where said letter is.