The charge for a letter is excessive!

[Dilbertian]

We are applying for Special Consideration for ds in his A-level assessments, as he was ill for most of the spring term. Obviously the school know (and they have been brilliant ) but we have to provide supporting evidence in the form of a letter from the GP. The letter will cost £72.

Ironically, we were in the same situation with dd three years ago. She was discharged from hospital the day before her first exam. But in her case all we had to do was submit a copy of her hospital discharge note, which was, of course, free.

We expected to pay for the GP letter, but £72?! Surely that's unaffordable for many families? Is it fair? We can afford to pay it, and will. But it feels wrong.

AIBU to think that such letters for children and young people in education, particularly for situations that can have a massive effect on their futures, should not be so expensive?

YANBU

£72! YANBU.
Do you have to pay cash? Do GP’s charge this as a little extra for themselves on the side?!

We usually don't charge but one GP charges £10 for a letter which goes in the staff kitty towards nights out. Haven't had one of them for ages though.

Do GP’s charge this as a little extra for themselves on the side?!

Almost everything GPs do is for themselves. Almost all GP practices are independent small businesses, funded by the NHS for certain services and procedures. Anything not funded by NHS they can charge for as, effectively, private healthcare.

Any time spent writing a letter is time that could have been used to for a patient consultation. How much does a patient consultation cost to the NHS? Surely around the £70 mark for all involved costs?

The recommended amount to charge is set by BMA
These letters are not part of the GP's contracted services to the NHS so can really charge whatever they like

£72 is steep.

I took blood tests recently. I phoned GP for results, a new receptionist answered the phone and said she would email me a request form to provide the results. It was a £40 medical record request form. Obviously I was confused as I never had to pay for my blood test results before! Luckily in my case it was a mistake and they gave me my results regardless, but I can imagine someone in the OP’s situation having difficulty affording that letter

Wow - I know some GPS charge but that is excessive surely ?

I can understand them charging for overseas jabs etc but I think a token charge for a letter supporting a student who is doing Olevels/A-levels - confirming the the fact that they were pretty ill and therefore missed school should not be charged like that - I'm surprised in the circumstances it wasn't waived

Presume someone looked up dates for GP, drafted a standard type letter and he/she signed it - can't have taken more than 30 mins surely - or am I out of touch - no doubt so rove who is a GP/ works at a surgery will be along to inform us of the going rate

£72???

Our GP charges £30!

@WithASpider

£72???

Our GP charges £30!

That's more like what I was expecting to pay.

Dh organised this. I wonder whether there's been a mistake somewhere.

I remember many years ago my son, an athlete, was selected for the World youth games. He had some forms for anti doping agency that the GP needed to sign. They charged £140 to a school boy. Many years later the same GP came to the optician where I work for DVLA form signing. He said ' I am a pensioner how much is it' after the form had been completed. Optician looks over to me and asks, ' how much did X charge for a signature on your D Sons form when he was still at school. £140 says me. Optician to GP ' The cost is £140. GP had to pay up. Karma !!

@allmycats

I remember many years ago my son, an athlete, was selected for the World youth games. He had some forms for anti doping agency that the GP needed to sign. They charged £140 to a school boy. Many years later the same GP came to the optician where I work for DVLA form signing. He said ' I am a pensioner how much is it' after the form had been completed. Optician looks over to me and asks, ' how much did X charge for a signature on your D Sons form when he was still at school. £140 says me. Optician to GP ' The cost is £140. GP had to pay up. Karma !!

Love this!

My GP completed and signed a disability student allowance form for my DS for free. I was expecting a charge. So it’s completely down to the individual GP or practice I think.

It’s optional, private work that the GP is not obliged to do though. The practice I work in has stopped providing these letters as it takes time away from patient care. Other practices I know of have increased their fees as a deterrent, rather than to make money.

I recently paid £125 + VAT for a relatively simple solicitor’s letter (I was quoted half of the solicitor’s hourly rate).

Could you do an SAR to get the info? That would be free.

Seems a bit unfair if this is for evidence for his education.

GPs work for themselves, they’re not paid for these type of things they can charge what they wish.

Ask them to write the letter. Don't collect it then do a SAR under GDPR and get all the medical records for free.

What's an SAR?

Wow, that’s a lot. I had to get one once and it was £25 which I thought was loads. All the doctor did was dictate it, the secretary typed it so pretty easy for him. Daylight robbery if you ask me.

It's not that I begrudge paying for a service. It's that this payment could make a necessary service inaccessible, thus widening the educational gulf between advantaged and disadvantaged youth.

I used to represent clients at welfare benefit tribunals. Some GPs would provide a letter for free and others would charge £150 for a letter. Unfortunately there's nothing you can do about it.

@allmycats

I remember many years ago my son, an athlete, was selected for the World youth games. He had some forms for anti doping agency that the GP needed to sign. They charged £140 to a school boy. Many years later the same GP came to the optician where I work for DVLA form signing. He said ' I am a pensioner how much is it' after the form had been completed. Optician looks over to me and asks, ' how much did X charge for a signature on your D Sons form when he was still at school. £140 says me. Optician to GP ' The cost is £140. GP had to pay up. Karma !!

That retired GP is getting I bet a very decent pension plus the state pension. Good for your boss.

@Dilbertian

What's an SAR?

Subject access request I think

I regularly request letters and reports from GPS as part of my work who charge anything from £30 to £300 there’s absolutely no sense. Rather than a letter can you not request your sons medical records? This would include any hospital letters if this will
Be sufficient enough for an exemption for the school. I recently did this and it was free. You have a right to the information, or your son does anyway. Do not pay for it