GP fees for releasing medical information
- Thread starter Dom
- Start date
?????
Is it not possible for someone under the age of 14 to suffer from a medical disorder then? I'm sure my son was 12 years old when diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, but clearly I'm mistaken....
I'm sorry to hear your son has a blood glucose level disorder, but thats not a reason (nor one of the questions on the tick form) that would stop him owning a firearm.
Niether does chest infections (however severe), broken bones, scraped knees or acne.
However if he has a history of drug or alcohol abuse, dementia or suffers from suicidal thoughts, has a long term psycotic illness, MS, Parkinsons or Huntingtons disease then he's stuffed.
All of which would be on his record.
@finnbear270 that's one hell of a life the 14 year old in question has had... lets hope not as MS, Parkinsons, Dementia and Huntingdons really don't come on until you are over 40 to 50 years old, even clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) isn't really eveident below 30 years old (I read). Equally (I understand) psycosis is difficult to diagnose in one so youg.
Diabetes can cause you to pass out which means it will be taken into consideration when suitability is assessed, just because something is not on the form it does not mean it can’t stop you from gaining a grant. Equally having something that is in the form is not an automatic revocation of a certificate
I didn't know that ... they should put it on the form and in the initial questions then as currently it's not being considered at all.....
I’m still undecided what to do here. My son, although still very young, will have anxiety noted in his records in connection with school attendance. This, I understand, is an area that the Police will be interested in. I can’t really see how I can avoid paying the fee if this is to proceed. I don’t want to deny my son the opportunity to enjoy a fantastic sport. He has received clay pigeon shooting lessons and is eminently sensible. I also realise there is no guarantee that he will be granted a SGC. I was totally open and honest on the application form and mentioned my son’s anxiety.
I would be tempted tto ask if the HO Guidance 'tick form' had returned one of the identified conditions for further medical explanation. If the answer is no then wait and dont pay, if however, a condition has been identified as being on the list, ask what condition is considered to negatively affect the grant. I am sure BASC will have advised this already, as otherwise they would make this a test case under the firearms insurance they say is available, wouldnt they?
Unless, of course, they have assessed your chances of getting it passed are less than whatever figure (50%) of chance they specify is not covered?
Unless, of course, they have assessed your chances of getting it passed are less than whatever figure (50%) of chance they specify is not covered?
As the father of a 'minor' you are as entitled to any information which relates to him as he is himself. I would be positive and friendly and ask the question of the Firearms and Explosives Licensing manager - just ask to speak to them. If they refuse, put the request in writing very quickly after, maybe if you can hand deliver it and say you cannot proceed with the application until you have an answer as without a defined condition (as per HO Guidance) no medical 'report' should be necessary.
Follow this up with BASC - they should be advising - as a non-member I have had my own disagreements with some FEO's.
Ask the police for a response in writing, otherwise its deniable and things have been denied. PCC is the next stop after that as refusal to answer will prejudice your sons application with no apparent good reason to do so.
PCC always seems to cause a fall of soot in the Chief Constables admin office.
Kes - I spoke to my FEO yesterday who seemed a very down to earth guy. I explained the situation. It was interesting that he said exactly what HQ in Kiddlington have been saying to me, namely it is normal for an applicant to receive a letter from their GP stating that the Police have requested medical information, and it is also normal for a charge (that varies wildly) to be levied against the applicant. TVP appear to have fully embraced this route. If the applicant doesn’t pay, the application cannot proceed. I asked about the “tick box” letter, but it appears that that IS what is causing the GP to write to the applicant requesting a fee. The fee doesn’t relate to a secondary request for more in-depth information. So, it would appear this is now the normal route for my area and that I’ll have to pay.
Highlandsjohn
Well-Known Member
Well, we can't say Miki,Kes,et,all didn't try their hardest. I'm sure our orgs keep an eye on this important forum, maybe only on the off chance, a compliment is directed at them, fat chance.
The GP's are now after all only following their lead and joining the gravy train which is our sport.
As basc seem to be the chosen one, this time round, perhaps a bit of support for a 'young shot' would have been nice,even appropriate.
So the lad will pay an extra £120.00 today, for the privilege of holding his first SGC (well done Dad for getting him there btw) Goodness only knows what his next one will cost.
I hope our organisation(s) are thoroughly ashamed of themselves. Nothing new there then...John
The GP's are now after all only following their lead and joining the gravy train which is our sport.
As basc seem to be the chosen one, this time round, perhaps a bit of support for a 'young shot' would have been nice,even appropriate.
So the lad will pay an extra £120.00 today, for the privilege of holding his first SGC (well done Dad for getting him there btw) Goodness only knows what his next one will cost.
I hope our organisation(s) are thoroughly ashamed of themselves. Nothing new there then...John
John, much as I don’t agree with paying the GP’s extortionate fee, I have been told by three police officers that’s it’s the only way I can proceed. It now appears to be TVP policy that if they hear nothing back from the GP they will not progress the application, so the 21 day rule seems to no longer apply in my area. The BASC told me to ignore the GP letter, but I’m certain that will merely result in the Police halting the application, so that approach no longer works under TVP. Different forces have different approaches, as do different GPs. The Home Office Guidelines would appear to be just that, guidelines, and very much open to interpretation. What I have read on this thread very much mirrors the other thread about TVP on this forum. I know TVP are receiving many calls from applicants about the GP fees. Their position is consistent in that they state this is a matter between the applicant and the GP and nothhing to do with them, adding that no letter equals no licence, or even the possibility of one.
I just spoke to the secretary at my practice. The fee does relate to the generic response that she said the practice hold themselves. The fee range for my practice is £90-£120 for a first application and £65 for a renewal. The secretary said that the practice had consulted with the LMC and that the fees were made in agreement with the Police. This contradicts what three Police officers have told me; they clearly said that the fees are a matter between the applicant and his or her practice and that they have no involvement with this side of things. The secretary also said that the production of the (generic) letter to be sent to the Police constitutes private work (not NHS) and therefore attracts a fee. It seems if you’re under TVP, you must pay, even for the initial response and even if no further medical investigation is warranted.
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