Renewal and medical proforma hold ups

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mudman

Well-Known Member
Well I didn’t think I would be in this position but I’ve had a sleepless night or two already so here goes

I checked my certificates at the weekend. Expire the end of July. (No reminders sent by police - no obligation to do so). So a bit late but I initially thought not drastically so.

Go online to Humberside police firearms licensing site, start renewal application online, all new to me. Have to complete in one go, no saving of the form. Basic stuff to start, page two (?) upload your completed medical proforma. Eh? Download that, simple enough proforma for the GP to complete. Never done one before, so straight to GP practice Monday morning. Hand over form, and then get told yes they can do it, but it is a private service and can take up to 12 weeks to be returned!

So 7 weeks before certification expiry, and up to 12 weeks before I get the medical proforma returned. And I cannot initiate the renewal until I have the proforma back.

Call BASC thinking it’s not such a serious matter, to be put straight that it is very serious and I should start now looking for somewhere to lodge my guns as no extension will be granted if the renewal is not started by the expiry date.

Sleepless night last night to say the least. Email to police yesterday, to generalise the reply was if a renewal is started before expiry date then extensions will be granted. If not then it is a case of lodge guns and the renewal is treat as a low priority new application. As said previously though a renweal cannot be started without a completed medical proforma to upload into the system. Their only advice was to stress the deadline date to the GP practice.

I’ve spoken to friends this last day or two and it is a train wreck, local gun dealers are full and not taking more more to lodge because of many others also falling foul of the proforma upload . One friend applied for his medical proforma to be completed over three months before it was needed, still not returned and his certificates have lapsed. His guns are lodged and the RFD tells him he could be looking at 18 months now more certificate grant.

I’ve got seven weeks to get the medical proforma back from the GP before I am screwed.

Maybe other forces have operated on a similar line for a while but this is really catching people out here in Humberside Police area and it looks potentially like I could be caught out too. It’s grim.
 
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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

www.shootcert.co.uk

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 www.shootcert.co.uk

Other providers are available. I would ring them all and see who will do it quickest for extra ££
 
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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!
 
It is bizzare that it would take your GP three months to do your form.

I am waiting for my FAC grant since September 2024. For the last year or so, every six months I hand in a form to my GP and send the new form (which costs me £40 each time) to the firearms department. I am hoping that that would preempt any delays when the team finally gets to my application.

I handed in my form on the 4th of June, and I have received it back today - and sent it onwards.

I do know from anecdotal stories that a lot of GPs are also not very gun-friendly and therefore very reluctant to do the forms, or drag their feet on them.

I'd suggest getting shootcert or one of the other similar organisations engaged in parallel. Its a shameful waste of money, but that might be the best option.
 
NoIDeer said:
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!
Click to expand...

I am not sure I would want the police to have the power and authority to directly tap into your medical records. Thats just going to invite trouble.
 
harrygiani said:
I am not sure I would want the police to have the power and authority to directly tap into your medical records. Thats just going to invite trouble.
Click to expand...
The police already have this power - as we speak - as you sign away your right to medical privacy on your cert application form.

"Duty of confidentiality. I will arrange for a suitably qualified GMC-registered doctor* to provide factual information to the police about any relevant medical conditions... I understand that the doctor may share my medical records with the police... and I consent to this sharing... I understand that I am expected to inform the police if I am diagnosed with, or treated for, a medical condition listed in note 5..."

Essentially, this is your confirmation that legally releases your doctor from their standard ethical and professional duty of absolute patient confidentiality.

Additionally, you confirm that the police can process your health data on a "public interest basis" for the purpose of assessing license suitability, with your consent acting as authorization to bypass standard confidentiality.

This situation/arrangement is active for the life of the cert, not just at the point of application. It only ends when you no longer have a certificate, either through lapse, surrender, revocation or death.

This cropped up on another post previously where a lady had her SGC revoked as she refused to discuss her cancer with the police when they came for a f2f wellness check. She said it was a 'private healthcare matter'. She clearly didn't read her ticket before she signed it.
 
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harrygiani said:
I am not sure I would want the police to have the power and authority to directly tap into your medical records. Thats just going to invite trouble.
Click to expand...

The initial questions are closed, yes/no answers, if the answer is yes the doctor is asked to elaborate. I have no problem with the police querying a database for a set of no's and should an answer need further investigation I should work with someone to reassure the licencing authority I will be safe or not granted a certificate.
 
This is from Google.

In the UK, when a patient authorises a third party (such as a solicitor, insurer, or family member) to request their records, the request is processed under a Subject Access Request (SAR).
The time limits are defined by the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) and UK GDPR:
  • Standard Time Limit: The doctor or healthcare provider must provide the records within one calendar month of receiving the request.
  • Complex Requests: If the request is highly complex or numerous, this deadline can be extended by an additional two months. However, the third party must be informed of this extension and the reasons for it within the first month.

A Note on Third-Party Requests
If the third party is acting on behalf of the patient, they must provide written consent from the patient. Before the records are released, the medical practice must review them to redact any third-party identifying information and ensure the disclosure will not cause serious harm to the patient.
 
All the onus is on us, the shooter. Making it ever more difficult to conform & comply... I'm sure it's a strategy to make the weak fall by the wayside and give up!

I don't envy you in your predicament.
Good luck 🤞
 
Best practical advice i can think of is speak to the GP, explain the timelines and offer them an extra 50 quid to do it as an express service. That'll sort their tea and biscuits in the practice for a bit and you may just have to take it on the chin but it will probably be cheaper than storage fees
 
12 weeks to complete the medical form is ridiculous. My GP turns it around in 3-5 days for £35 and emails me an electronic copy so I can upload it directly. Your GP has access to your medical records it takes about half an hour tops to complete and sign the form

Speak to your GP practice manager to complain about the 12 weeks, if no joy use Medcert.
 
ruger77 said:
I got my medical proforma back in in a week that was East Yorkshire
Click to expand...

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.
 
The key to this sad story is, make a reminder in you phone for the begging of the year you tickets lapse and start the process!

Being in Norfolk has its perks of a reminder, but you can’t rely on it.
 
mudman said:
Well I didn’t think I would be in this position but I’ve had a sleepless night or two already so here goes

I checked my certificates at the weekend. Expire the end of July. (No reminders sent by police - no obligation to do so). So a bit late but I initially thought not drastically so.

Go online to Humberside police firearms licensing site, start renewal application online, all new to me. Have to complete in one go, no saving of the form. Basic stuff to start, page two (?) upload your completed medical proforma. Eh? Download that, simple enough proforma for the GP to complete. Never done one before, so straight to GP practice Monday morning. Hand over form, and then get told yes they can do it, but it is a private service and can take up to 12 weeks to be returned!

So 7 weeks before certification expiry, and up to 12 weeks before I get the medical proforma returned. And I cannot initiate the renewal until I have the proforma back.

Call BASC thinking it’s not such a serious matter, to be put straight that it is very serious and I should start now looking for somewhere to lodge my guns as no extension will be granted if the renewal is not started by the expiry date.

Sleepless night last night to say the least. Email to police yesterday, to generalise the reply was if a renewal is started before expiry date then extensions will be granted. If not then it is a case of lodge guns and the renewal is treat as a low priority new application. As said previously though a renweal cannot be started without a completed medical proforma to upload into the system. Their only advice was to stress the deadline date to the GP practice.

I’ve spoken to friends this last day or two and it is a train wreck, local gun dealers are full and not taking more more to lodge because of many others also falling foul of the proforma upload . One friend applied for his medical proforma to be completed over three months before it was needed, still not returned and his certificates have lapsed. His guns are lodged and the RFD tells him he could be looking at 18 months now more certificate grant.

I’ve got seven weeks to get the medical proforma back from the GP before I am screwed.

Maybe other forces have operated on a similar line for a while but this is really catching people out here in Humberside Police area and it looks potentially like I could be caught out too. It’s grim.
Click to expand...
Good old basc remember when we were told we could get ten year certs in exchange for medical forms 🤔
 
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 😂
 
farrieral said:
This has got me thinking ahead, my renewal is up in Feb 2027... how early can you get a medial 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 😂
Click to expand...
I applied for my medical pro forma 5 months before my renewal and the Drs took 2 months meaning I was able to submit my application 12 weeks in advance of the renewal date (which was the earliest Dyfed Powys would accept it). Find out how long your practice will take, check the earliest you can submit your application and work back from there.
 
Using a 3rd party is ok but it still means you have to get your medical records released to the 3rd party.The GP is duty bound to do this .
However took my GP 10 weeks to send mine to the 3rd party and just did not give a f--k he was breaking the law .The practice admin would not even speak to me about it .
I had an 8 weeks extension and was told if my renewal was not completed by the expiry date I would have to store my guns with RFD
Received renewal 2 days before expiry
 
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