GP charges for a letter?

[Caspar]

Re: GP charges for a letter?

How do I access my medical records (health records)? - Health questions - NHS Choices

[bluebottle]

Re: GP charges for a letter?

Yes, unfortunately, GPs are permitted to charge for letters. And they have the backing of the law. A bummer, I know, but it doesn't fall within what the NHS will provide free of charge.

[CleverClogs]

Re: GP charges for a letter?

a bit rich

I'm sure the GP will be, if he charges all his patients the same for his signature.

[bluebottle]

Re: GP charges for a letter?

ACCESS TO MEDICAL RECORDS BY PATIENTS

There are three pieces of legislation that enable patients to access their medical records -

Access to Medical Records Act
Data Protection Act
Freedom of Information Act

Which Act applies will depend on the circumstances why you require access. In all cases, patients should approach the Practice Manager at their GP's surgery, in the first instance, and who should be able to advise how to go about obtaining access.

Please be aware, as has been voiced in other posts in this thread, that extracts can be redacted if it what is recorded would have a detrimental effect on the patient's health.

Amongst other things, I'm involved with a charity and other groups involved in Primary Health Care and come across this a lot.

Hope this is helpful.

Bluebottle

[jane1108]

Re: GP charges for a letter?

To be fair to the gps it does really vary. They are there to provide health care for their patients 10 minutes work as described is quite a lot in yerms of their time. Our gp always give a private prescription free of charge if it saves on the drug cost over an nhs prescription you dont even have to ask. But I appreciated not all gps are as good as ours and feel very lucky to have them.

[Guest]

Re: GP charges for a letter?

What are the fees for accessing medical records (health records)?

Thanks, I needed this

[splendid]

Re: GP charges for a letter?

Yes, I think it depends on the practice.
My doctor wrote a letter for me, didn't charge anything!

[JCE]

Re: GP charges for a letter?

Yes, they are allowed to charge fees for this, passports, shotgun licenses etc... I agree it's a rip off, but sadly it's the only way to get hold of it, so they have you over a barrel.

Apologies for digging out this old thread - received some advice (from an advice-centre - though they didn't explain it in more detail) recently which claimed GP's have a discretionary fund which allows them to waive the fee depending on the patients financial conditions - can anyone provide more detailed information on this please as soon as possible.. ?!

Thanks!!