Doctors Fee

20-250

Well-Known Member
My certificates are currently with the police for renewal. Today I received a letter from my GP requesting £66 to cover the cost of sending a medical report to the police.
I have never suffered from any condition which would affect my suitability to possess firearms and do not feel inclined to pay the fee.
The British Medical Association website states that doctors should contact the police to inform them that the report will not be sent as the fee has not been paid. I am aware that if a response is not received from the doctor within 21 days of the police request then it should be assumed that the doctor has no concerns, but has anyone had any issues as a result of failing to pay?
 
Hmmm interesting. On my application a few months back, my FEO (West Mercia and Warwicks) told me that a letter is sent requesting relevant medical information about the applicant but that doctors have been reluctant to spend time checking up on every applicants background. They therefore put the onus on the applicant to sign to say they know of no reason why they should not be given a licence and would only then be challenged if the doctor found something untoward about the applicant that made them think they were not a suitable licence holder, resulting in them then contacting the licencing authority to raise their concerns.

I assumed this was therefore nationwide but maybe it is just certain forces that employ different checks. I would have thought this would be a universal approach but hey, I have read about so many differing ways that the licencing system is administered.

I would check with your FEO to see if they require a report of any kind back to issue a ticket or if just a bad report would have a bearing on the re-issue.

Interested to see what happens. Good luck. £66 is a rip off. I personally believe they have a responsibility to reply FOC. The licencing of guns is reasonable and so is a background medical check. I guess they are just busy. Same as FEO's though.
 
BASC has sorted this hasn't it ? Don't pay and a nil report will be assumed unless as it says, in Scotland where it appears MRS N Sturgeon is a bit short on her Police Benevolent Fund. Best ask SACS.
 
BASC has sorted this hasn't it ? Don't pay and a nil report will be assumed unless as it says, in Scotland where it appears MRS N Sturgeon is a bit short on her Police Benevolent Fund. Best ask SACS.

Simply ask the Police, I did and they confirmed that it was a scam by the Doctors.

Don't pay, no report gets issued, renewal progresses as normal.

If the Doctor is aware of a problem then he has a duty to inform the Police anyway regardless of forms or payments.

This applies in England, it appears that in Scotland government is in on the scam.
 
As i have stated in previous threads, i was asked for £55 from my doctors surgery and refused to pay, i notified my surgery that HO guidelines said no fee should be expected for the initial letter, i also notified my licensing office telling i was not going to pay and my FEO when i had my renewal which was met with raised eyebrows, and the remark that this was a scheme dreamed up between BASC and the BMA!! Anyway my licence arrived 10 days later.

Ian.
 
I know that the member of licensing staff who deals with my certificates is off next week, but I'll phone and run it by her when she's back. Sounds like the doctor's trying it on.
 
Simply ask the Police, I did and they confirmed that it was a scam by the Doctors.

Don't pay, no report gets issued, renewal progresses as normal.

If the Doctor is aware of a problem then he has a duty to inform the Police anyway regardless of forms or payments.

This applies in England, it appears that in Scotland government is in on the scam.

Same in North Yorks. Where as before the odd licence had medical checks now all licenses require them renewal or first time. The doctors are basically saying give me some money or we don't check which will, if the worst happens show them in a very poor light as the duty of care rests with them. It leaves them exposed baring in mind free at the point of delivery etc.
When I was asked to pay, my licence arrived the next day as it was already in the post and on speaking to my feo he said that the non cooperation by the doctor causes no delay. Very worrying if there are issues with an individual.
Bryn
 
I was told by the FLD in Sussex that if they don't hear from the GP within 21 days they proceed anyway as the onus is on the GP to report any concerns. If they don't reply as far as the FLD are concerned there are no issues. So in theory if your FLD was on the top of their game and doing renewals in a week then it could delay your cert by a couple of weeks if they wait out 21 days to see if they get a response.
 
This is an easy one......just ignore it, unless you have any medical conditions that should be notified all will be fine.
 
I'm sure, but that's life in Jimmy Krankie's socialist republic for you.

So,20-250, you are to pay £66.00 ' three times more 'south of the border' and I paid £22.00 in Scotland,:doh:

'in the socialist republic'..how much did you pay in E Lothian roebuck223 Quote "I only wish Scotland was as cheap"?
 
I live in Scotland and my doctor did not charge me for responding to the initial letter, however I've heard of people being charged anything between £20 and £200 by their doctor.
The simple fact is that Police Scotland are ignoring the HO Guidance and making up their own entirely unjustified rules.
Unfortunately there has not yet been a legal challenge to their policy, so Scottish shooters continue to be discriminated against compared to shooters in England and Wales, where all the Police Forces follow the HO Guidance.

Cheers

Bruce
 
I live in Scotland and my doctor did not charge me for responding to the initial letter, however I've heard of people being charged anything between £20 and £200 by their doctor.
The simple fact is that Police Scotland are ignoring the HO Guidance and making up their own entirely unjustified rules.
Unfortunately there has not yet been a legal challenge to their policy, so Scottish shooters continue to be discriminated against compared to shooters in England and Wales, where all the Police Forces follow the HO Guidance.

Cheers

Bruce[/QUOTE

Totaly agree with all you say and look forward to the court case and the challenge in court of law, which our org(s) should be funding,instead of allowing us to be picked off one by one. (SACS aside)
Just like the unannounced security checks imposed by PS, these fees will become the norm in the UK and tied to FAC grant. After all the vast majority of members of parliament are not our friends and they make the law.
As an FEO told me, its all about reducing firearms ownership and they have made a start. View attachment 83687
 
My certificates are currently with the police for renewal. Today I received a letter from my GP requesting £66 to cover the cost of sending a medical report to the police.
I have never suffered from any condition which would affect my suitability to possess firearms and do not feel inclined to pay the fee.
The British Medical Association website states that doctors should contact the police to inform them that the report will not be sent as the fee has not been paid. I am aware that if a response is not received from the doctor within 21 days of the police request then it should be assumed that the doctor has no concerns, but has anyone had any issues as a result of failing to pay?

Was the payment request definitely for a medical report, if it was then you should be having words with your licensing office, i ask because there is a correct procedure on obtaining a medical report, the police do not have the right to ask for a medical report, this must be requested by yourself.

Ian.
 
hi I paid £205 for doctors
first time £125 private doctor whitch the police did not accept
second time £80 when my own doctors did sign it
because ihave ms and firearms owner for 40 years the police finally gave in.
regards robert
 
hi I paid £205 for doctors
first time £125 private doctor whitch the police did not accept
second time £80 when my own doctors did sign it
because ihave ms and firearms owner for 40 years the police finally gave in.
regards robert

Bummer, that's ridiculous Robert. Police Scotland have a lot to answer for.
I reiterate, its way past time this nettle was grasped by our org's LEGAL team(s). I paid my meagre fee as our Doctors have always charged for letters or for extra shots for going abroad etc.. I got off light by comparison.
 
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