To think GPs shouldn’t charge for these letters?

[Lostare]

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?

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?

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

Yes that is the typical cost of any GP letter really

I also have never needed a letter. I just put my liquids in my liquids bag and continue as normal. But it's not e.g. an opiate or anything anyone is likely to have strong feelings about.

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.

That's expensive, have you checked with the airline and the country you're visiting that you need a letter as well as the prescription

Could you get letter from pharmacist?

do you have the NHS app? Can prove from that it’s your prescription, or take a copy of the prescription. I’ve taken lots of controlled drugs abroad and never needed a GP letter.

My DS has flown all his life with injections. He has never needed a letter from the doctor.

You don’t need a letter from the doctor.

you can carry either a printout from the nhs app or I usually carry my repeat slip.

it’s not nhs work so yes there is a charge.

It's not NHS work so GP can charge what they like.
As GPs are swamped they sometimes set the fee to deter people from asking for letters.

Also I've always taken meds including injectable in hand luggage just with the box with my name on. No one has ever looked.

An old repeat slip or the NHS app are other options if you want something extra.

You can get a free copy of your medical records as a medical summary and that shows any medication your on.

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

Pretty much

There’s no prescription letter, my medicine gets delivered to my front door from an external company and it usually comes with a delivery note but I’m not due another delivery before I go. It’s a pre filled injection pen and needs to travel with the ice travel pack. It doesn’t show on my NHS app either as I was going to print that out. Airline said to bring a letter from my dr confirming as if they take issue they can take it. I’ll try my consultant but they’re even harder to get hold of! Thank you.

My dd has flown all over the world with EpiPens with no letter.

Not injectables, but DD has flown with liquid Piriton (over 100ml) and all we ever had to show was the prescribing label on the bottle.

I also used to carry a copy of the repeat prescription, but never had to show it.

Have you checked the requirements for the airports?

I have to pay £40 for my child’s medication letter. Never asked for it in Europe but have needed it in the States. I agree it’s outrageous. Can’t cost more than a few pounds to do it.

If it’s prescribed you must have a prescription? Unless it’s a private prescription? Is it weight loss medication? Insulin, B12 etc would be on your nhs notes.

Speak to the company who arrange the delivery of the medication.

I get medication delivered by Lloyds Clinical and they provide a letter free of charge for travelling.

No I have never seen a formal prescription. I used to get it via an IV in hospital every 4 weeks and then they switched to self injecting pens which are delivered every few months. I get a delivery note with it but no prescription. It’s not weight loss, it’s a biological medication. I have chrons disease.

I recently flew to the USA with medication in hand luggage (and you likely know what they are like) and didn't need a letter. Just the medication in my name.

My meds are the same. I have a letter from the IBD team stating that I need to take them in hand luggage.

It wasn't checked going to the States but will find out next week for going to Australia.

Is this an option for you?

Can you have a look at the hospital letters to your GP that are stored in your NHS app? One of those might mention your medication?

Depending on where you are going, could you get a valid prescription for that place in case they do take the pen from you?

So, the GP isn’t the prescriber? If anything you need the person who prescribes, but more generally there should be an associated cost - it’s not core business. As to whether £55 is reasonable, it seems high, but their time is valuable too.