Dan Newcombe
Well-Known Member
Surely if you write to the firearms dept to tell them that your GP doesn’t like guns and won’t fill out the form then it becomes the police’s problem if they want the report.
Clearly an arsehole….its not about personal opinions - it’s stating the mental status of a patient. They should be forced to complete it.
I don’t like the oil and gas I help produce going to hipster, tree hugging green hypocrites but I have no say as it’s my job….this should be no different.
I will wheel out my story again? Yes. Why not!
My GP Surgery also told me, when this came in, that "they had taken a practice decision not to take part in the process".
So eight months later I go and ask for a copy of my medical records so that I can get a third party to do the certification.
The practice manager then tells me that they "have had a meeting" about the matter.
"Yes," says I, "I know. You're not taking part in the process."
"Oh no, we are now," says he. "We'll now be signing them."
"How much?" I ask.
"£133." Is the answer
To which I reply "Well I am glad to see that you don't sell you virtue cheap."
No one expects them to be experts, they expect them to comment on their previous history to the best of their knowledge based on the files they have.GPs are not mental heath experts, they only confirm if the applicant has any medical history of the relevant medical conditions.
You are required to provide a medical report based on your medical history and completed by your GP or suitably qualified medical doctor; detailing that none of any relevant medical conditions are current.
Relevant medical conditions which must be disclosed are:
- Acute Stress Reaction or an acute reaction to the stress caused by a trauma
- suicidal thoughts or self harm
- depression or anxiety
- dementia
- mania, bipolar disorder or a psychotic illness
- a personality disorder
- a neurological condition: for example, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s or Huntington’s diseases, or epilepsy
- alcohol or drug abuse
- any other mental or physical condition which might affect your safe possession of a firearm or shotgun
Exactly as Gixer1 has stated.. I’ll be up for my 2nd renewal since initial grant in December 2009, at the end of this year.. I’ve never had the need to engage with my GP in respect to obtaining a GP proforma completion. So I may have to ask much sooner and not wait until I actually need to complete my renewal. It would be helpful for me to know if as a practice they will participate in completing the required proforma.No one expects them to be experts, they expect them to comment on their previous history to the best of their knowledge based on the files they have.
When does a comment become just an opinion if they are not experts? It is or was just a tick in box form for each relevant condition last time I looked based on your medical history.No one expects them to be experts, they expect them to comment on their previous history to the best of their knowledge based on the files they have.
It’s an opinion based on the file they hold on the person…I.e.- no mention of treatment for anxiety, depression or anything that will effect judgement when owning firearms.When does a comment become just an opinion if they are not experts? It is or was just a tick in box form for each relevant condition last time I looked based on your medical history.
Exactly my thoughts too…So with a renewal in september, how far out do I need to approach Doc, bearing in mind at least another two months for renewal.
@308tikkaSo with a renewal in september, how far out do I need to approach Doc, bearing in mind at least another two months for renewal.

How is this a police problem? They don’t ‘want’ the report. It’s part of your application. If you haven’t got it the police will simply refuse your application. That’s your problem.Surely if you write to the firearms dept to tell them that your GP doesn’t like guns and won’t fill out the form then it becomes the police’s problem if they want the report.
In Sussex it’s recommended to start 6 months before renewal.So with a renewal in september, how far out do I need to approach Doc, bearing in mind at least another two months for renewal.
They don’t have to do it. It isn’t an NHS responsibility.What several commenters on here clearly don't understand is that this isn't the Drs job. Their job is seeing NHS patients. Signing FACs and SGCs is a private job that they are capable of doing but quite within their rights to decline to do. No different to a car mechanic being asked to do a job for a friend at the weekend in their own time. They don't have to do it!
As most medical notes are now on line I doubt that they personally have to do any work at all.They don’t have to do it. It isn’t an NHS responsibility.
But they do have to provide a copy of the medical notes to any GP that asks for them (iirc within 30 days).
So they end up spending the same amount of time dealing with the admin, but they can’t charge for it.