Dr refused to complete medical form.

[Liveonce]

Yes, someone at the club who uses the same surgery was chasing for 6 weeks, he went to simply medicals and then on the same day got a call from the GP to pick up. I've also been told one of the GP Dr is also a shooter, so it might be hit and miss. I just didn't want the faff of chasing.
The process I did was fill out a permission to release my documents, this was emailed by simplymedical to the GPs with me on the mail. (Presumably an automated template as it was pretty quick)
A couple of days later returned filled out. It's the same proforma as on the staffs and west mids website so hopefully the renewal will go through with no issues.

I assume you must have all your GP records digitally held or at least the last ten years in digital format for such a fast turnaround to be possible. Takes longer that one and a half days for my GP surgery to answer the phone

 

[ChesterP]

My Surgery's GP refused to complete the form when asked. I then went to MEDCERT, and had the report 31 days later. They said that the Practice had a statutory 30 days to respond and they held onto it until day 30. The issue isn't in getting your med records as you are legally entitled to those. It's finding a GP willing to sign off that you're medically fit in law to hold a cert, and as stated earlier in the thread, they are entitled to say "No". Mine stated that he was opposed to shooting and to public holding firearms in principle. I had a friendly chat with him and reminded him that I wasn't after his blessing or asking for a personal opinion on shooting, just whether he was willing to sign a form saying that I was medically fit to hold a certificate, but he just would not separate the issues, which are two separate things! As it happened, they had no choice in the end as I wen the MEDCERT route but begrudge paying what I did for a bl**dy signature.

 

[royalewithcheese]

My Surgery's GP refused to complete the form when asked. I then went to MEDCERT, and had the report 31 days later. They said that the Practice had a statutory 30 days to respond and they held onto it until day 30. The issue isn't in getting your med records as you are legally entitled to those. It's finding a GP willing to sign off that you're medically fit in law to hold a cert, and as stated earlier in the thread, they are entitled to say "No". Mine stated that he was opposed to shooting and to public holding firearms in principle. I had a friendly chat with him and reminded him that I wasn't after his blessing or asking for a personal opinion on shooting, just whether he was willing to sign a form saying that I was medically fit to hold a certificate, but he just would not separate the issues, which are two separate things! As it happened, they had no choice in the end as I wen the MEDCERT route but begrudge paying what I did for a bl**dy signature.

You may have confused matters with your GP, the Proforma isn't asking the doctor whether you are medically fit to hold a firearm, it's seeking a factual response from a medical professional to review your medical records on if you have a number of specific conditions (parkinsons, drug abuse, psychotic illnesses, etc) and if you do, then the particulars of those conditions such as when you were diagnosed, what medication you take, etc.

The police licensing department are the ones who decide if you are medically fit, once they review the completed proforma.

 

[ChesterP]

I read the proforma and report from MEDICERT and it was literaly a one page tick box. Yes it asked those questions, but I was paraphrasing in the post above. The doctor was signing off that there was no reason, in accordance with the prescribed details, why I shouldn't hold a certificate

 

[gixer1]

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

No one said they were - however. The police have put the requirement on FaC applicants to show no mental health issues and the only people to have this info are medical professionals that hold your records.

As I said….”arseholes” in this case.

 

[sanibel686]

as a member has correctly said above, who wants to be with a GP who is anti-shooting and refuses to sign your paperwork. who knows at some point in the future, he may be required to provide further information and will certainly not be on your side. my advice would be to change your GP and encourage everyone you know in the same surgery to do likewise.

 

[gixer1]

Do police officers that carry firearms need a cert and GP letter?

 

[tim@tcs]

Do police officers that carry firearms need a cert and GP letter?

They have psychological assessments, not sure if I would pass one of those!
As for changing GP’s if you can then good luck. I’m stuck with a GP who really looks after me but doesn’t approve of shooting however he doesn’t lecture me on that. He used to lecture me on my weight and lack of exercise but that’s fair!

 

[Sandyb]

I got my Police renewal reminder today for my expiring certificate on 28th December 2024, yes, their recommending and advising starting the process now… I dropped my GP proforma off at the surgery this morning.. No issues, they’re aware of the process and needs to be sent to the practice manager.. they’ll advise me of the fee for completing.. I very rarely waste or take up a lot of their time, an ideal patient of 23 years.. It’s just a shame you can’t progress at all with the on-line application without it..

 

[Liveonce]

I got my Police renewal reminder today for my expiring certificate on 28th December 2024, yes, their recommending and advising starting the process now… I dropped my GP proforma off at the surgery this morning.. No issues, they’re aware of the process and needs to be sent to the practice manager.. they’ll advise me of the fee for completing.. I very rarely waste or take up a lot of their time, an ideal patient of 23 years.. It’s just a shame you can’t progress at all with the on-line application without it..

share your pain, also been an ideal patient for many years, but the GP ignores that when asking you to pay.

GP practices were paid an average of £163.65 per registered patient in 2021/22, according to new data released by NHS Digital.

 

[MAH]

doesn't agree with gun ownership'.

Med Reports might get the 1st grant, but there will be a legal requirement for his docto put a marker on his patient file..
His doctor is required to advise the police if they have concerns.
Given the Dr's biased option, he might also consider changing doctors.
M

 

[fixedwheel]

but there will be a legal requirement for his docto put a marker on his patient file..

Have a look again at the MoU I linked to in post #119

 

[Liveonce]

not contractually binding, tells you all you need to know.

If your registered GP refuses to engage in the process then they will likely not put the marker on your medical records and certainly no third party GP business offering the report can add the marker.

 

[Sandyb]

Quite efficiently, got a text this morning asking me to contact the surgery.. the ‘new aged’ phone system is now a nightmare, so decided to walk the 4 minutes to the surgery, as I’d need to pay anyway… £50 fee for them to complete the required pro-forma.. Still it could have been worse or more complicated..

 

[slider]

not contractually binding, tells you all you need to know.

If your registered GP refuses to engage in the process then they will likely not put the marker on your medical records and certainly no third party GP business offering the report can add the marker.

I used a third party for my renewal (Medcert) and I do have a marker on my GP records.

 

[VSS]

This may be a dumb question, but how does the GP know to put a marker on your records? Unless you use medcert (or similar 3rd party provider) the GP will know that you're applying for a FAC (either initial or renewal. Same medical pro forma for each), but who then tells him whether or not your application has been successful, in order that he knows whether to apply the marker?

 

[mealiejimmy]

The Police are supposed to advise the GP if the application has been successful and to tell the GP to put a marker on the patients records
In my experience they do actually contact the GP because i know there has been a marker on my medical record since 2016 when the whole GP thing started in Scotland

Cheers

Bruce

 

[fixedwheel]

This may be a dumb question, but how does the GP know to put a marker on your records? Unless you use medcert (or similar 3rd party provider) the GP will know that you're applying for a FAC (either initial or renewal. Same medical pro forma for each), but who then tells him whether or not your application has been successful, in order that he knows whether to apply the marker?

From the GP ProForma, which is effectively on page 19 of Form 201, found here

Firearms application forms

Firearms application form, the form to vary a firearm certificate and guidance notes.

www.gov.uk

 

[VSS]

From the GP ProForma, which is effectively on page 19 of Form 201, found here

Firearms application forms

Firearms application form, the form to vary a firearm certificate and guidance notes.

www.gov.uk

View attachment 379521

Thanks.
That goes to show I never bothered to read the thing myself

 

[fixedwheel]

Thanks.
That goes to show I never bothered to read the thing myself

If you had, it would have just wound you up how much the Doc charged you to do it!