GP fees for releasing medical information
- Thread starter Dom
- Start date
I spoke to the BASC Firearms people today and their advice was, in the first instance, to ignore the letter and let the 21 days lapse. This, I presume, ties in with the idea postulated in this thread in places that the Police, hearing nothing adverse, will by default issue the certificate. However, I remain unconvinced as the officer I spoke to at TVP was adamant on two occasions that if the a Police did not receive a reply from the practice the application could proceed no further.
As to wording and semantics, the letter from the practice details a ‘request for Medical Report’ at the beginning, but goes on to say ‘we have received a request.....to provide details of your child’s medical history.’ The word ‘report’ is subsequently used in the following paragraph. An invoice was provided by the practice, the £120 charge being for ‘professional services’. Again the word ‘report’ is used on the invoice.
Whilst I don’t object to a fee being applied in principle, £120 seems rather extravagant.
As to wording and semantics, the letter from the practice details a ‘request for Medical Report’ at the beginning, but goes on to say ‘we have received a request.....to provide details of your child’s medical history.’ The word ‘report’ is subsequently used in the following paragraph. An invoice was provided by the practice, the £120 charge being for ‘professional services’. Again the word ‘report’ is used on the invoice.
Whilst I don’t object to a fee being applied in principle, £120 seems rather extravagant.
There is no point arguing this , A GP practice is a self funded business and although they take on NHS contracts they can , like lawyers, charge what they feel. It is in the end up to your local constabulary to make the paperwork easier for the GP , but, there is GP's that are anti shooting . this has been going on since April last year.
The Police used to pay the GP's from your licensing fee but now they dont .
The Police used to pay the GP's from your licensing fee but now they dont .
To @finnbear270 and @Dom the Police are NOT asking for a medical report. Yes they ask for Medical Information (sort of) but in reality a 14 year old will not have any relevant, historical, information available.
Which makes a mockery of the request, which is the key to defeating this "requirement"..........
Dom, you don't have to take my advice but please call SACS on 01350 724228 and ask for Alex or Fraser and discuss this with them.
Which makes a mockery of the request, which is the key to defeating this "requirement"..........
Dom, you don't have to take my advice but please call SACS on 01350 724228 and ask for Alex or Fraser and discuss this with them.
Last edited:
That's not true. This is a 'new' requirement that came into effect in 2017 and was adopted by Police Scotland as a "requirement" in 2018 primarily because there was no quidance issued by the Scottish Ministers and Police Scotland are very risk averse.
Initially it was agreed that there would be 'no charge' by surgeries to mark your medical records however this initial stance was reversed by the BMA. Shortly afterwards surgeries started charging to mark your records and return a 'tick form' back to the Police.
As you quite rightly point out as self funded busnisses they can charge what they like, and some surgeries charge £20 where others charge £200.
This fee has never been paid for by the Police. If the Police require additional medical examination/information then they (still) have to pay for this.
Orion
Well-Known Member
It's not just semantics, it's important to get the terminology right as it applies to the medical evidence scheme, otherwise people are talking at cross-purposes - see Miki's post #44 as well.
It could play into your hands though as the practice are invoicing your for a 'medical report' where none is required!
......
So a fourteen year old has no status in life history then?
Sonicdmb73
Well-Known Member
If they had approached my Doctor when I was 14 they would not of had much to read. Between mumps at five or six and some stitches during secondary school I didn’t see him.
In relation to the questions asked on tick form (other than the surgeries agreement to mark his/her medical records) non whatsoever.
It is actually true , the police did pay the GP from the licensing fee , I am with a small country practice and the practice manager knows everyone personally and I would say majority of the patients are firearms holders so they were very open , however, our cost was only £20
This really made me think. I don’t think rewording is the answer here. It’s shows a fundamental lack of professionalism and it is, in effect, blackmail. I’d report it to the GMC as professional misconduct.
What you have access to is very limited, you can however print off your prescribed medicines page, which shows you aren't taking any anti-depressants etc
Orion
Well-Known Member
Lincolnshire Medical Council were challenged about that particular piece of 'blackmail' back in late 2017 and did a swift volte face and changed the wording. They were/are still in cahoots with the Lincs FLD though with the policy of "no report, no licence":
Lincs Police Firearms Medical Procedure (towards the bottom of the page)
LMC Firearms and Letter Templates (the template letter 3 'not paid' letter to the FLD is particularly interesting as the GP is advising the police not to issue based on non-payment!)
Correct me if I am wrong but didnt BASC ask for an example from Lincolnshire - the OP has spoken to BASC so one now has a hard time believing this or the other 'facebook' statement by the organisation with no clout and less wit, it would appear.
On the contrary, I have full access, if something isn't on it, I don't have it.
That must be a another postcode thing then, I certainly can't print off my entire medical record
?????
Is it not possible for someone under the age of 14 to suffer from a medical disorder then? I'm sure my son was 12 years old when diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, but clearly I'm mistaken....
Similar threads
