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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

GP's surgery want to charge me £10

29 replies

Voidka · 27/09/2011 13:30

Both my boys have peanut allergies and both have Epipens, one kept at home and one at school.

A new SENCo started at the school this year, and she wants new healthcare plans. They apparently need to be signed off by the GP. I popped into the surgery this morning to be told that there will be a charge of £10 for each plan.

AIBU to be annoyed and not want to have to pay?

OP posts:
Maisiethemorningsidecat · 27/09/2011 13:32

YANBU

Why doesn't the local authority pick up this tab if they are insisting on these new healthcare plans? And if you refused to pay the £10, what would the SENCo do?

belledechocchipcookie · 27/09/2011 13:33

GP's are not there to write letters (sorry). The school nurse can help for free though. I think this isn't in the SENCO's remit, although I may be wrong. I'd contact the school nurse and get her to liase with the school about this. The SENCO will not be adequatly trained in allergies and Epipens.

Scholes34 · 27/09/2011 13:34

What about if you had an appointment with your GP and whipped out the plans when you're in there and said, ooh, could you just sign these whilst I'm here?

IrishSea · 27/09/2011 13:39

YABU. I live outside the UK now and pay ?65 to see a GP and pay full price for any medication if it's needed. Sometimes I think people in the UK forget just how great the NHS is, you guys don't know how lucky you are! :)

PS I also pay more tax for less here before people say they do pay for the NHS through NI

Hatescolds · 27/09/2011 13:42

As above not nhs work hence charged for. However if it is school/ SENCO requesting this surely they should meet the charges?

Original poster
Voidka · 27/09/2011 13:43

I have paid the GP for letters before - £12 for a fitness to fly letter for example. I just feel annoyed at being asked to pay a tenner to say that he agrees for the school to be able to give my boys life saving drugs if needed.

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 27/09/2011 13:49

OP do you realise that you should have TWO epi pens in case one fails to work?

I have never been asked to provide a doctor's note by any of ds's schools and it seem bizarre that the SENCO should ask for it Confused I just photocopied the consultant's care plan and put it in with ds's epi pen pack - is that something you could do?

Personally I would just say to the school you won't pay for the letter and leave it with them........

It's REALLY hard getting epi pens from the GP now, they are expensive apparently and every time I ring up for more I have to explain that I will fax over a copy of the care plan etc etc - that usually des the trick!

belledechocchipcookie · 27/09/2011 13:50

Seriously, the school nurse will sort this out for you (for free). You can get in touch via the school office, you don't need to tell them what its about. She will train the staff as well.

vanfurgston · 27/09/2011 13:51

how much income tax do you pay where you live IrishSea? i m jst curious. v had to pay for Gp and any other medical stuff wen we were not in uk but the tax was much less compared to UK. i think bcz of that i dnt consider the nhs free.

( sorry to go off topic)

valiumredhead · 27/09/2011 13:53

Irish we pay a bloody fortune in tax - definitely not free unless you are unemployed.

Quintessentialist · 27/09/2011 13:54

(as an aside: Norway: £20 for each visit to the GP, tax at 40%)

valiumredhead · 27/09/2011 13:56

Bet lots of kids from Norway only get taken if they are on deaths door Wink

valiumredhead · 27/09/2011 13:58

God, that looks horrible typed out - what I MEANT to say was I bet the waiting rooms aren't filled with anxious mums with their PFBs who have a 'little cold.'

Original poster
Voidka · 27/09/2011 14:03

The other thing is that we dont see the GP, so he doesnt even know the care plan that the allergy consultant and specialist nurse have drawn up for DS2.

I already tried the school nurse office and was told no. I have also tried DS2's Paed but we dont see her for another month.

OP posts:
belledechocchipcookie · 27/09/2011 14:05

You can call the paeds secretary and she'll ask the doctor for a letter. Sounds like a run around. What did the school do before??

DorisIsAPinkDragon · 27/09/2011 14:07

put the ball back in their court send it back unsigned, they want to pay £10 for a signiture they need to pay.

It is essentially another insidious cost of disability, as if living with disability is not shit enough, there are more (unnecessary costs at every turn.

Sorry bad morning. I think I would return to senco and say (preferably in person) you are unable to pay (whether you are or not).

ForYourDreamsAreChina · 27/09/2011 14:08

YANBU but it's the way things work isn't it?

As others have said, far worse in other countries where you'd also be paying upwards of £75 for every check up.

My friend has just paid £175 for a pregnancy scan.

Eglu · 27/09/2011 14:09

I would do as others said and tell the school you won't pay for a letter. Aske them to pay for it if they want it so much.

Original poster
Voidka · 27/09/2011 14:13

Before we just had a form which I filled out for DS1. (DS2 who has allergies and other issues only started this year).

OP posts:
NichyNoo · 27/09/2011 14:14

Belgium = 28 euros for GP visit (with 12-15 euros of that refunded).

Tax at 53.5% for those earning above 32,000 euros. Plus 13% NI equivalent.

valiumredhead · 27/09/2011 14:15

Quick letter to the head explaining that you will NOT be paying £20 for 2 x letters and enclose a copy of the care plan.

valiumredhead · 27/09/2011 14:16

Do you have to pay for medicines on top of that Nichy? Shock

NichyNoo · 27/09/2011 20:31

Yep - no fixed fee for medicines so a generic antibiotic may cost 2 euros but steroids or contraceptive pill or other 'more expensive' drugs cost more - don't think I've paid more than 10 euros for a medicine but luckily I've not been ill enough to require serious drugs.

Theas18 · 27/09/2011 20:40

YABU. GPs are not contracted by the nhs to fill out forms like these. They are done in their own time. Would you expect your solicitor to " just sign this" for free?
The people that want the forms need to pck up the tab.

ggirl · 27/09/2011 20:41

God just write your own careplans for the children.If they want them signed direct her to the school nurse or ask nurse yourself.