Renewal and medical proforma hold ups

[hogey]

If it’s back in a week all fine, two or three weeks likewise. May not get renewed in time but I will be granted an extension as it is now in the processing system. But if it is one day after expiry date then it’s a whole new world of hurt, no extension, no legal authorisation to hold guns / rifles and application become not a renewal but a grant. Bottom of pile, low priority and many months before I can hope to get new certificates.

We seem now to be beholden to the GP ‘s who are unaccountable in this regard. They can charge what they want and return the proforma when they want. It’s a mess.

I think they only issue an extension if your application is submitted 12 weeks before expiry

 

[hogey]

When I have to renew again I will be 80.So if I am still able to renew I will write to GP 8 months prior asking them to release my medical records then send them to a 3rd party to complete the pro forma in due time for the process to work

 

[Ceres]

Why can't the police search our medical record directly for this information, that's all your GP does?

As long as there are checks to ensure that's all the police have access to it couldn't do any harm and would inform them much sooner if questions need to be asked about a person's mental state.

It would save all of us a load of stress!

I don’t think the police are appropriately qualified to understand medical records and their applicability towards firearm ownership.

Not that all medical professionals definitely are, but at least they should have some understanding

 

[Fosbery Holster]

I knew that my certificates would be up for renewal towards the end of June so l was prepared quite early in the year to contact my firearms department to initiate my renewal……l had no need to……they contacted me sixteen weeks prior to expiry by letter also including the doctors form, took the form to the surgery the following day received a phone call the next day that the form was ready for collection.
Not that literate with computers l wasn’t looking forward to completing my Coterminous certificates online, a quick phone call to my firearms officer put me at ease, kicked off completing the renewal no problem, attached photos of the doctors form and submitted the renewal.
The hardest part was getting my internet provider to download the photos to the firearms department, only took three attempts but got there in the end.

It certainly wouldn’t bother me again to complete online.

 

[ruger77]

When I have to renew again I will be 80.So if I am still able to renew I will write to GP 8 months prior asking them to release my medical records then send them to a 3rd party to complete the pro forma in due time for the process to work

You can apply six months before your cert runs out the proforma is only valid for six months

 

[Slimwich]

Use Shootcert or Medcert to get your medical pro-forma done, usually much quicker than through your GP and you may be able to pay a premium to get even faster turnaround. The extra cost will likely be less than your firearms storage fees.

Being ignorant of the timings and requirements for your renewal is no defence to the police

ShootCert: The Trusted Choice For Your Firearms Medical

ShootCert: The UK's leading provider of firearms medicals, recommended by BASC, Countryside Alliance, CPSA. Trusted by police & GPs.

www.shootcert.co.uk

Other providers are available. I would ring them all and see who will do it quickest for extra ££

I used shootcert and they were great my doctors wanted to charge me £250 for my shotgun medical. Its the most I have ever heard one trying to charge. They still dragged thier feet getting the info to shootcert by taking the full amount of time and only sending part of the information needed.
But shootcert dealt with it all and were happy to put the amendments in that the firearms team needed.

 

[12gsnapcaps]

My GP charges 90 quid but has done it within 3 days both times it's been required. If they put the price up on next renewal in 5 years I'll likely use medcert or similar. Daft as the GP still has to do loads of work in regards to sending your records through to the third party. So they could charge a reasonable fee for the work and get paid or do the work anyway and be paid nothing for it. I imagine many that do the latter option just don't want the association with firearms or think their report will in some way make them liable (it clearly states in the form it doesn't)

 

[UpNorthMI]

I just submitted my FAC / SGC renewal this week, about 14 weeks prior to expiry. I went down the private medical route, my medical records were supplied in several weeks, I got my medical pro forma the next day after medical records were supplied. Great service from the private medical doctor.

I tried to do my renewal online with Staffs but I would get 50 to 70% of way through the online process and then their online web system would crash. In the end I had to apply for renewal in paper, get a photo, write a check. It all just seems such a lottery based on which county you are in, keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for a smooth renewal.

Maybe the new software system that is to be created will bring some administrative advantages to both the police and to certificate holders.

The current reality is you cannot be slow in the renewal process, those days are long gone! Check your certificate expiry date and plan well in advance.

 

[Chris Richardson]

@mudman how helpful were basc ?

 

[Greenmist]

Sorry to say, but even if they did your med cert while you waited, you'll be applying later than 8 weeks before expiry so sadly your guns will have to go into storage and at your cost, crap situation to be in and if the whole system wasn't a shambles, posts like this wouldn't be necessary

 

[Greenmist]

@mudman how helpful were basc ?

While I'm no fan of BASC, they'd be unable to help in this situation due to the time scale, if an application is made minimum 8 weeks before expiry, you're fine. Personally I'd be getting things rolling 6 months before expiry

 

[mudman]

@mudman how helpful were basc ?

They explained the facts of the matter to me, what I should do, (and what I should have done previously), and defacto the seriousness of my potential situation.

They did not offer to take the chief constable to the High Court on my behalf using the fighting fund, which was disappointing but hey ho….

 

[mudman]

Well good news, after explaining the tight time frame I was working to with the GP practise and the need for urgency, I received a phone call this afternoon.


The ‘up to’ three month wait turned into three days. I collected the completed medical proforma an hour ago….

 

[25 Sharps]

This has got me thinking ahead, my renewal is up in Feb 2027... how early can you get a medical proforma done and it still be valid... North Wales Police being my force GP has always been the sticky point of the process, it was easy when my shooting buddies wife worked at the practice, but she selfishly left for greener pastures

6 months

 

[1000kilograhams]

Nothing exciting to add, but I'm glad you got sorted without anymore headaches.

I will also echo the others in recommending the third party medical folks for the future, despite your GP sounding on the ball this time. Naturally all the data sharing didn't fill me with joy, but it'll all be out there anyway if the NHS and police have it, so ho hum

My GP actually lost my forms, apparently, which I didn't know for a month as I was trying not to harass or hurry them along, and they wanted £120 and a month to complete them anyway.

Firearms Med did it for sod all (£35 at the time maybe?) and very quickly and also argued the toss with my GP over something petty that my FLO was aware of and wasn't worried about but my GP continued trying to make a point of, great job.