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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is disgusting - GP charging for form

487 replies

FrostedFancy · 21/12/2023 13:39

GP surgery insist I must pay £40 for completion of a form from school to request online learning for my DD (14) who is suffering from MH issues due to being diagnosed with a serious health condition.

AIBU to think this is absolutely disgusting to profit from a child with medical condition and mental health issues needing access to an education?

Form literally would take 5 minutes to complete.

OP posts:
Jeannie88 · 22/12/2023 19:54

Yes I couldn't believe it when I found out I had to pay extra! Working since age of 16 and pay for my prescriptions etc. Still it was to help so child so of course did it but was flabbergasted! X

FeeBee73 · 22/12/2023 20:14

This is expensive. I wonder if the school asked directly it would be the same?
They do charge for letters and forms to be done.

Mumtobabyhavoc · 22/12/2023 20:31

It's the same here in Canada. Seems becoming standard everywhere. 😡

Elvisfairy · 22/12/2023 20:46

Forms are classed as a private service as its not covered by the nhs. If you want the form filling in you have no choice but to pay.

MigGirl · 22/12/2023 20:55

The problem is the school/LA asking for something they don't need to provide the education they are law bound to provide.

Totally this. There is no legal obligation to provide medical evidence for children. You have a problem with the school not the GP. You need to challenge them.

Also children don't get everything free on the NHS, I have to pay for DD glasses and nether of my children have access to.amd.NHS dentist anymore. This is quite common now.

Rhaenys · 22/12/2023 20:57

Mine charged £20 over 10 years ago. I was surprised at the time, but I think it’s normal now.

celticprincess · 22/12/2023 21:09

Are you trying to access EOTAS provision? Education other than at school? The system is broken and no one should be charging for this to happen. For other posters it won’t be the school. It will be the LA who need to proof. But where we live it has to be signed off by a medical consultant and not usually a GP and this can be hard to get. It would usually be the cahms team. To be honest if this was me I’d just pay the money if it’s actually going to get the help needed, even though I don’t agree with it.

There’s a lady who runs a food fb page which is worth following for EOTAS advice. I’d also try and contact your local parent cater forum and also your local sendiass for further advice. https://www.facebook.com/seNDSupport

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/seNDSupport

KeepGoingThomas · 22/12/2023 21:38

where we live it has to be signed off by a medical consultant

Your LA is acting unlawfully. They should not have such a blanket policy.

littlebopeepp234 · 22/12/2023 21:45

FeeBee73 · 22/12/2023 20:14

This is expensive. I wonder if the school asked directly it would be the same?
They do charge for letters and forms to be done.

Yes it would be the same if the school asked directly. The irony in all this is the very people who need all this medical information often wash their hands of any responsibility regarding payment and so that responsibility ends up being with the patient when it’s not actually the patient who needs this information, it’s the school. At the end of the day SOMEONE has to pay the GP for their service

Lindyloomillion1 · 22/12/2023 22:17

Totally normal. And cheap!

Waspalert · 22/12/2023 23:27

I am sorry people are not being kind to you. Dealing with a young person suffering from mental health issues is extremely stressful and can be an emotional rollercoaster. Those people who say that £40 is not much are obviously oblivious and have no understanding that £40 can be all the spare cash that a family has for two weeks or even more. You ANBU; we have all paid our NH contributions and in this situation, additional payment should not be needed. Are those who require a letter to say they are unable to work due to Ill health expected to pay for it? This is a very similar situation and I am shocked at the the lack of empathy from this community.

Deliria · 22/12/2023 23:29

Waspalert · 22/12/2023 23:27

I am sorry people are not being kind to you. Dealing with a young person suffering from mental health issues is extremely stressful and can be an emotional rollercoaster. Those people who say that £40 is not much are obviously oblivious and have no understanding that £40 can be all the spare cash that a family has for two weeks or even more. You ANBU; we have all paid our NH contributions and in this situation, additional payment should not be needed. Are those who require a letter to say they are unable to work due to Ill health expected to pay for it? This is a very similar situation and I am shocked at the the lack of empathy from this community.

Sadly the aggression towards SEND families is quite 'normal' here.

Woofie7 · 23/12/2023 01:07

How interesting . I just asked my gp to fill out a form for my on line MSc as I have a neurological disorder.
did take her three weeks but no charge mentioned and she wrote approximately five words.

definitely do not think a charge should be made for a child . You have enough to contend with anyway.

best wishes to you both.

TempestTost · 23/12/2023 01:24

GPs spend a lot of time filling out forms for people, and the NHS does not pay them for it. They aren't going to do it for free, any more than a lawyer would, or any other professional - even if it's something you need to have and don't have any choice about.

ChedderGorgeous · 23/12/2023 01:30

Zanatdy · 21/12/2023 17:36

I had to pay £50 to exclude DD from PE for health reasons and had to return the letter with my suggested amendments as it made no sense

I agree with you. We should abolish the NHS

LorlieS · 23/12/2023 01:35

I'm a primary teacher and the amount of passport application forms I've been asked to fill in is unreal!
Wonder why that is?!!
I also wonder the reaction from people were I to say " Yes of course - that will be £40 please."

overwhelmed2023 · 23/12/2023 01:40

All forms gave a standard charge. The sue s asking GPs to complete it - often schools ask unnecessarily

mantyzer · 23/12/2023 02:19

@LorlieS that is because for many people the teacher is the only person they know who can sign.

TenorMachine · 23/12/2023 07:35

Mumof32017 · 22/12/2023 17:42

When did the price hike?! Was £25 last time I checked. Won’t take 5 mins, they’re a piss take.

It never takes 5 minutes. Whilst as a consultant I don’t charge, I am professionally responsible for every word I write. So I read and double-check notes so that everything I write, I can defend. And it’s often very hard to find the relevant information in notes for a patient I don’t know.

I have sympathy with everyone. £40 is a lot of money for many families.

Cannyapper · 23/12/2023 08:30

To everyone saying "direct your anger at the school", schools also have processes beyond their control and are heavily scrutinised by the County Attendance Teams.

LittleBearPad · 23/12/2023 08:57

Jeannie88 · 22/12/2023 19:54

Yes I couldn't believe it when I found out I had to pay extra! Working since age of 16 and pay for my prescriptions etc. Still it was to help so child so of course did it but was flabbergasted! X

What does paying for your prescriptions have to do with anything? You’re unlikely to be covering the full cost in any event.

JMSA · 23/12/2023 09:01

YABU.

angela1952 · 23/12/2023 09:49

My daughter lives on benefits and disability allowance, she is unable to work and will not be able to work in the future. Despite this she is regularly called in for interviews and medicals, and each time she has to have a doctor's letter which costs her £25. All the information in the letter is already available to the doctor and she does not have to be examined, in some cases it is just a list of her medications.
Some weeks she can't even afford her basic living expenses, particularly towards the end of the time between her payments, but if she doesn't attend and produce a letter her benefits are delayed.

MidgeFragnets · 23/12/2023 09:54

Ten years ago I got charged £30 because I was dying of flu and couldn't submit an essay. I was obviously a student, so was pretty pissed off. I think for some people there could be an exemption. Not everyone has £40 and that could mean going without food for some just to prove you are ill.

LadyWithLapdog · 23/12/2023 12:54

@MidgeFragnets can you imagine if every student who couldn’t submit an essay on time wanted a little free letter? There has to be a charge for this.