GP wants to charge to sign a form!

SingleSue

We were very lucky with our GP. We had to have a report for middle son and his DSA application last year and had been advised we would be charged for it so I waited until I had a few more pennies and made the appointment.

She did it free of charge.

comeandgo

Our doctor charges £85. £15 is a bargain.

rpc

Sounds more like a token fee to stop them being bombarded. It isn't uncommon.

Ultimately, it isn't NHS work and the NHS doesn't pay them for it (remember that GPs are private organisations and are not part of the public NHS body). You are taking up an appointment slot that they would otherwise get paid for by the NHS, so it seems only fair to charge you for it.

[Deleted User]

Hermia wrote: »

A lot of people don't have friends/family in these sorts of positions.

If your doctor hasn't known you for two years you're up the creek. I was a regular in the library, so I got the librarian to sign for my driving licence.

missprice

rpc wrote: »

Sounds more like a token fee to stop them being bombarded. It isn't uncommon.

Ultimately, it isn't NHS work and the NHS doesn't pay them for it (remember that GPs are private organisations and are not part of the public NHS body). You are taking up an appointment slot that they would otherwise get paid for by the NHS, so it seems only fair to charge you for it.

It's a while since I needed anything signed by GP but as I recall I handed it in at reception and picked it up the next day. No using up appointment time for a sig.

Plus he charged £25 per sig. No matter what it was for. Apparently it's in line with the BMA structure!

Flugelhorn

Hermia wrote: »

Yes, it is very common. You need a professional or someone in a position of authority (I think there is a list of accepted people on the passport website) to sign a passport. A lot of people don't have friends/family in these sorts of positions.

Actually GPs no longer do them - this is on the website:

Additional Update: In the past it was ok to use your Doctor/GP to countersign your application. Due to high demand and complaints received from medical professionals you are now not able to use your registered doctor as a counter signatory (however if you have a friend or colleague who is a doctor this is still permitted).

There were occasions when people had the form signed by the GP and then the passport office sent an unnamed photo to the GP and asked them to name them. After all they had said that they knew the person etc etc

Michtaylor09

Ever one of the above posters is wrong. The form for exemption from CT due to severe mental impairment (dementia) is one of the few forms that a GP is NOT ALLOWED to charge for.
Look on the Talking Point forum or speak to Age UK.
I know because I researched it before doing it for my MIL

Hermia

Flugelhorn wrote: »

Actually GPs no longer do them - this is on the website:



There were occasions when people had the form signed by the GP and then the passport office sent an unnamed photo to the GP and asked them to name them. After all they had said that they knew the person etc etc

I have been phoned by the Passport Office to check whether I know the person whose passport I signed. I am a librarian and get asked to sign passports by library customers a lot and I always refuse unless I have known them years. Some people get really angry when I refuse. I think it is a real problem for a lot of people. I think a lot of people don't have any professionals or people in respectable positions amongst their friends. A lot of people also don't belong to a church or other community group so can't meet suitable people there.

elsien

pigpen wrote: »

Just a thought.. If he has a hospital consultant/nurse they might be able to sign it and not charge at their own discretion.. I know our diabetes nurse has signed forms for people free.. it could be worth asking.

A hospital consultant providing a mental capacity assessment for a legal matter is charging £100 in my area. Apparently this is usual and is considered cheap.

missbiggles1

Michtaylor09 wrote: »

Ever one of the above posters is wrong. The form for exemption from CT due to severe mental impairment (dementia) is one of the few forms that a GP is NOT ALLOWED to charge for.
Look on the Talking Point forum or speak to Age UK.
I know because I researched it before doing it for my MIL

As you've researched this, could you provide a link?